Redirect examination

{{short description|US legal term}}

{{redirect|Re-examination|the process in United States patent law|reexamination}}

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{{Evidence law}}

Redirect examination, in the United States, is the questioning of a witness who has already provided testimony under oath in response to direct examination as well as cross examination by the opponent. On redirect, the attorney offering the witness will ask additional questions that attempt to rehabilitate the witness's credibility, or otherwise mitigate deficiencies identified and explored by the opponent on cross.{{cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/redirect_examination |title=Redirect examination |website=Wex |date=May 2024 |access-date=November 7, 2024}} For example, the opponent might elicit on cross-examination an admission that the witness did not directly perceive every single part of the events at issue; the proponent will attempt on redirect to establish that the witness perceived enough of those events that the finder of fact can draw reasonable inferences as to the gaps where the witness's perception was obstructed.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

"Recross" is sometimes allowed, but usually the opposing attorney must ask for permission from the judge before proceeding with that additional round of questioning.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

In Australia, Canada, India, UK and South Africa the process is called re-examination.{{cn|date=November 2024}}