Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRE 611: Mode and order of interrogation and presentation

(a) Control by court. The court shall exercise reasonable control over the mode and
order of interrogating witnesses and presenting evidence so as to:
(1) Make the interrogation and presentation effective for the ascertainment of the
truth;
(2) Avoid needless consumption of time; and
(3) Protect witnesses from harassment or undue embarrassment.
(b) Scope of cross -examination. A witness may be cross -examined on any matter
relevant to any issue in the case, including credibility. In the interests of justice, the
trial court may limit cross -examination with respect to matters not testified to on
direct examination.
(c) Leading questions. Leading questions should not be used on the direct examination
of a witness except as may be necessary to develop the witness' te stimony.
Ordinarily leading questions should be permitted on cross -examination, but only
upon the subject matter of the direct examination. When a party calls a hostile
witness, an adverse party, or a witness identified with an adverse party,
interrogation may be by leading questions.

Where this section sits in the code

KENTUCKY RULES OF EVIDENCE ----- Legislative Research Commission Note (7/1/92). Although denominated "rules," the elements of the Kentucky Rules of Evidence were enacted as statutes by the Kentucky General Assembly. See 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 88; 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 324. Originally codified as KRS Chapter 422A in 1990, the Kentucky Rules of Evidence were renumbered by the Reviser of Statutes, effective July 1, 1992, pursuant to 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 324, sec. 34. By an order dated May 12, 1992, the Kentucky Supreme Court "adopt[ed] so much of the Kentucky Rules of Evidence as enacted by HB 241 [1992 Ky. Acts ch. 324] as comes within the rule making power of the Court, pursuant to Ky. Const. sec. 116."

(a) Control by court. The court shall exercise reasonable control over the mode and

order of interrogating witnesses and presenting evidence so as to:

(1) Make the interrogation and presentation effective for the ascertainment of the

truth;

(2) Avoid needless consumption of time; and

(3) Protect witnesses from harassment or undue embarrassment.

(b) Scope of cross -examination. A witness may be cross -examined on any matter

relevant to any issue in the case, including credibility. In the interests of justice, the

trial court may limit cross -examination with respect to matters not testified to on

direct examination.

of a witness except as may be necessary to develop the witness' te stimony.

Ordinarily leading questions should be permitted on cross -examination, but only

upon the subject matter of the direct examination. When a party calls a hostile

witness, an adverse party, or a witness identified with an adverse party,

interrogation may be by leading questions.

Collected 2026-09-05T21:00:10Z. Source file · JSON

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