An “objection” at trial is your way of asking the court to give you a legal ruling about something (and to prevent it from happening). The objection could be towards the behavior of the lawyer for the other side, to the wording of a question, or a type of evidence. It is, simply, your way of asking the court to stop the other side from doing something.

How to Object

In general, you make an objection by saying the word “objection” and adding a very brief legal reason for the objection. So you might say, “objection-calls for hearsay.” At that point, the judge might make a ruling instantly, without further input from you or the other side. Or the court might allow the other side to speak, or it might want a more serious argument from both sides. If you feel that you are getting short shrift from the court you will-occasionally– ask the court if you can “approach the bench” (approach the judge to make a more detailed argument. Most judges will let you do this unless they think you are trying to waste time. The other lawyer will go up there too, and you can hash out the question without the jury hearing you.

In some ways, this is the scariest part of the trial. It is certainly one of the most confrontational. But if you are going to represent yourself, and if the case goes to trial, you must resolve to do this. If you think you cannot do this, it should not stop you from defending yourself, though-you will have many opportunities to settle the case along the way before trial. You don’t need to be in a rush to get out of it because of trial. In general, cases go to trial less than 2% of the time-that’s only one out of fifty. They do that because people settle their cases at every stage of the litigation. You don’t have to hurry.

Why to Object

But if you are going to go into trial, you must be prepared to object. If you do not, the court will almost certainly allow all the evidence the other side wants. And in debt cases, much or most of that evidence would not be allowed if you objected. So get ready to speak up and do not be afraid to do so.

What if the Court Denies Your Objection

What do you do if the court denies your objection? Does it mean the judge doesn’t like you? Doesn’t like objections? Doesn’t want you to object? No, it doesn’t mean any of these things. It only means that the judge didn’t see it your way at that particular instant. If the other side is talking about a document that you consider hearsay, for example, you should object to each question on that basis even though the judge keeps ruling against you until the court grants you a “continuing objection.” Failure to object at any time could result in waiving the objection. Because the judge knows that too, she won’t get mad at you for objecting again and again. You have to do it.

What if the Court “Sustains” Your Objection?

What should you expect if the court grants or “sustains” your objection? Applause from the jury or spectators? Submission from the other side? Do not expect these things. All you have accomplished is to force the other side to try to prove its case in other ways. The judge will instruct the other side to ask another question, and they will do that. There’s a very good chance that they will rephrase the question a little bit and ask the same thing again. Don’t be outraged, it’s just how the game is played. You must ask yourself whether they have fixed the problem that caused you to object, and if not, you object again. Some of the problems the debt collectors face are so fundamental that try as they might, they can’t ask a question that isn’t objectionable. You should object every time.

Every time you object, the court must rule on your objection. It creates a record for an appeals court to consider, so objecting is essential from an appellate point of view. But there is also a more immediate reason to object when the situation calls for it. It shows that you are standing up for yourself-in court, everybody admires a fighter, and the jury expects it. It is possible to go too far, but most people stop too short. If you have time to do so, it’s a good idea to watch another trial so you can see how it is done. Chances are that if you are at all shy, more is better.