IF SOMEONE IS ASKED TO BE A HOSTILE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENSE AGAINST YOU…WHAT INFORMATION ABOUT THE CASE IS?
A “hostile witness” in a court case is someone who doesn’t want to testify for (in defense of) the party that subpoenaed them. The attorney representing the party (person) who wants the testimony of someone who is likely to be “hostile” to providing “witness” testimony is allowed to treat the “hostile witness” as if they were a witness for the opposing party. Questioning of “hostile witnesses” often resembles a cross-examination. Of course, most “witness” statements/interviews are not in a courtroom at all. In those instances a witness who is “hostile” (adverse, recalcitrant) to the questioning of the interviewer can be interrogated (harsher than interviewed); tactics like asking “leading questions” is permitted.
