Why do the attorneys object to certain statements or evidence?

An important part of an attorney's job is to protect the client's rights during a trial. This includes making sure that the only evidence presented during the trial is evidence that is proper, relevant, and allowed by law. So if the evidence is submitted that the attorney feels is improper, or if the attorney feels that the other side is asking questions that are unlawful, the attorney will call out, "Objection!" By doing this, the attorney is asking the judge to rule on whether the law allows that particular piece of evidence or statement or question to be admitted. If the judge thinks it should be admitted, the judge will say, "Objection Overruled" or just "Overruled". If the judge agrees that the evidence in question is improper, the judge will say, "Objection Sustained". How often an attorney raises objections during the trial should not bias you against that attorney's case.

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1. Can I talk to anyone about the trial while it is going on?
2. Can I watch news reports of the trial or read newspaper accounts of it?
3. How are criminal cases tried?
4. What if I accidentally hear something about the trial outside the courtroom, or if someone contacts me about the trial while it is still going on?
5. What if I need a break during the trial?
6. What are Jury Instructions?
7. What are my responsibilities now that I'm part of a jury?
8. What are the two types of criminal cases?
9. What happens during a civil trial?
10. What is a "question of fact"?
11. What is a "question of law"?
12. What should I do when testimony is stricken from the record?
13. Who awards damages in a civil case?
14. Who else will be in the courtroom? What will they be doing?
15. Who sets the punishment in a criminal case?
16. Why do the attorneys object to certain statements or evidence?
17. Why is the jury sometimes asked to leave the courtroom in the middle of a trial?