Which objection would you raise if a witness has no personal knowledge to answer a question?

Which objection would you raise if a witness has no personal knowledge to answer a question?

• A. Lack of Personal Knowledge
• B. Lack of Foundation
• C. Nonresponsive
• D. Narrating

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that a witness must testify from personal knowledge—what they actually perceived or experienced. If a question asks about something the witness has no firsthand knowledge of, you would raise lack of personal knowledge. This objection is about preventing testimony that’s based on speculation or hearsay rather than a witness’s own observations. The remedy is to have the witness respond only to what they personally perceived or can directly know, or state that they do not have personal knowledge about the matter. Lack of Foundation is different: it targets whether enough groundwork has been laid to admit the testimony or establish the witness’s qualifications. Nonresponsive is about answers that don’t address the question asked. Narrating is used when a witness offers a long, extraneous narrative rather than a direct answer. In the scenario described, the precise issue is that the witness lacks firsthand knowledge, making the proper objection lack of personal knowledge.

The main idea here is that a witness must testify from personal knowledge—what they actually perceived or experienced. If a question asks about something the witness has no firsthand knowledge of, you would raise lack of personal knowledge. This objection is about preventing testimony that’s based on speculation or hearsay rather than a witness’s own observations. The remedy is to have the witness respond only to what they personally perceived or can directly know, or state that they do not have personal knowledge about the matter.

Lack of Foundation is different: it targets whether enough groundwork has been laid to admit the testimony or establish the witness’s qualifications. Nonresponsive is about answers that don’t address the question asked. Narrating is used when a witness offers a long, extraneous narrative rather than a direct answer. In the scenario described, the precise issue is that the witness lacks firsthand knowledge, making the proper objection lack of personal knowledge.