From the Witness Stand
Ever testify in court? Whether be of your own freewill or as the result of a subpoena? I’ve not done it, but I can only imagine how intimidating and vulnerable one must feel to be on the witness stand.
Putting criminal cases aside, as the witness looks directly at the offender adding additional fear as they face someone being accused of a crime that could result in prison, death penalty, whatever the case maybe; let’s talk about the civil action witness.
In both types of law, the facts must be relayed in the simple truthful manner. If one tells the truth from the beginning, the facts should not be difficult to remember. Sounds easy enough, but let’s not forget about ones nerves and what that may do to the human being on the witness stand as the sole focal point in the courtroom. A step further, how does one testify as to the damages the family may experience due to the harms and loss of a loved one? If you ask me, that is extraordinary difficult in my mind.
From my view, it seems that as frightening as it may be to be on the stand, the facts are what they are. You listen to the question and state the answer. But, how do you explain to a bunch of strangers what the loss of your parent or child or best friend has been? How to relay in minutes or hours to these jurors what a lifetime of loss of this person has been and the effects it has caused? Talk about feeling vulnerable and most likely needing a support person to see you through; we’ll that’s what I try to do.
Families that come to Bordas & Bordas have been injured and sometimes, these injuries are catastrophic where a loved one has died because of injuries and harms. My philosophy to our clients, when it comes time to express to the jurors, that is, what this loss means to a family, they have to put a face to the name of this person who the jurors have heard about. We have a responsibility to that loved one to tell their story because they aren’t here to tell it and that is a difficult place for anyone to be in. What our clients know is they have the support of our team here at Bordas & Bordas. Our knowledgeable attorneys who are excellent in the courtroom also possess the genuine compassion for their clients. I’ve seen it with my own two eyes. That quality is invaluable to give a person as they are forced to relive some of the darkest moments they have ever experienced through the weight of a trial on their shoulders. I mean as if they haven’t already been through enough? Although I cannot put myself in someone’s shoes as a witness, given I have never done it, I certainly can be their support to grasp onto in their time of need. That is invaluable to me because I’ve grown to know them, their loved one, and I make it my goal that our clients never feel alone in a courtroom. Together, we strive to help bear the weight of that loss and pain, one that is so severe, it’s hard to put to words, but we see them through this pain as it’s relived amongst a group of strangers. We fight hard to find the justice that loved one and their family deserves and do everything we can to stop it from happening time and time again.
Image courtesy of Unsplash.