A lay witness is an ordinary person who testifies based upon their personal knowledge and life experiences. A lay witness is distinguished from an expert testimony, who testifies and gives and opinion based upon their qualifications of expertise in their field. A lay witness' opinion must not be based on knowledge outside the understanding of the ordinary person.
A Guam Motion in Liming Regarding The Testimony of Lay Witnesses is a legal document filed in Guam courts that aims to restrict or exclude certain evidence or witness testimony from being presented during a trial. Lay witnesses refer to individuals who are not experts in a particular field but can provide testimony based on their observations or personal knowledge. Keywords: Guam, Motion in Liming, Testimony, Lay Witnesses, Evidence, Trial. In Guam, there are various types of Motion in Liming Regarding The Testimony of Lay Witnesses that can be filed, including: 1. Motion to Limit the Lay Witness Testimony: This motion seeks to restrict the scope or duration of the testimony provided by a lay witness. The party filing the motion may argue that the witness's testimony is irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly prejudicial to their case. 2. Motion to Exclude Hearsay Testimony: Lay witnesses often testify about what they heard from other people or conversations they were not a part of. Hearsay refers to any statement made outside the courtroom that is offered as evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted. This motion aims to prohibit the admission of hearsay statements by lay witnesses. 3. Motion to Exclude Opinion Testimony: Lay witnesses are generally not permitted to provide expert opinions or draw legal conclusions. However, sometimes a lay witness may attempt to offer testimony beyond their personal knowledge or observations. This motion seeks to prevent lay witnesses from offering opinions that should be left to experts or the court. 4. Motion to Exclude Irrelevant Testimony: This motion requests the court to exclude any lay witness testimony that is not directly related to the issues at hand or that deviates from the facts of the case. It argues that such testimony is immaterial and should not be considered by the jury or the judge. 5. Motion to Exclude Unauthenticated or Improperly Collected Evidence: This motion asserts that the evidence presented by lay witnesses is not properly authenticated, does not meet the standards required for admissibility, or was obtained in violation of legal procedures. It seeks to exclude such evidence from being considered during the trial. When filing a Guam Motion in Liming Regarding The Testimony of Lay Witnesses, it is essential to provide detailed arguments, legal citations, and supporting evidence to convince the court that the testimony in question should be restricted or excluded. The goal is to shape the scope of the trial and prevent the introduction of potentially prejudicial or unreliable evidence.
