Which objection applies when a witness who cannot see without their glasses testifies that they saw Goldilocks run out?

Which objection applies when a witness who cannot see without their glasses testifies that they saw Goldilocks run out?

• A. Leading Question
• B. Irrelevant
• C. Hearsay
• D. Lack of Personal Knowledge

Answer: (D)

A witness must have personal knowledge of the facts they testify about, meaning their testimony must come from their own perception. If someone cannot see without their glasses, they did not actually perceive the event clearly enough to establish firsthand knowledge of who ran out. Saying “I saw Goldilocks run out” rests on perception that the witness could not reliably have without correcting their vision. Because the statement isn’t grounded in the witness’s actual, perceivable experience, it should be challenged as lacking personal knowledge. This isn’t about whether the memory is true or whether it’s hearsay or a leading question; it’s about whether the witness had the necessary firsthand basis to testify to what they saw. If the witness uses glasses or otherwise can perceive the event, they could properly testify to what they observed.

A witness must have personal knowledge of the facts they testify about, meaning their testimony must come from their own perception. If someone cannot see without their glasses, they did not actually perceive the event clearly enough to establish firsthand knowledge of who ran out. Saying “I saw Goldilocks run out” rests on perception that the witness could not reliably have without correcting their vision. Because the statement isn’t grounded in the witness’s actual, perceivable experience, it should be challenged as lacking personal knowledge. This isn’t about whether the memory is true or whether it’s hearsay or a leading question; it’s about whether the witness had the necessary firsthand basis to testify to what they saw. If the witness uses glasses or otherwise can perceive the event, they could properly testify to what they observed.