Spoken evidence still carries great weight. Testimony is a statement a witness gives under oath or affirmation in a legal proceeding, subject to cross-examination and rules of evidence.

Testimony may address what the witness personally saw or heard, or, when permitted, expert opinions based on specialized knowledge. Credibility is tested through questioning, prior inconsistent statements, and corroborating or conflicting evidence. Written depositions preserve testimony before trial.

Perjury laws deter deliberate falsehood. Judges instruct juries on how to evaluate testimony. Clear, consistent, first-hand accounts often prove decisive, while vague or evasive answers undermine a party’s case.

• Sworn statement of a witness in a proceeding
• Subject to cross-examination
• May be fact or qualified expert opinion
• Evaluated for credibility by the fact-finder