The Conduct of Inquiries
The Conduct of Inquiries – should advocates sit or stand?
Whether advocates should sit or stand at inquiries when
- addressing the Inspector to make opening or closing submissions;
- making applications for rulings or costs;
- intervening during another party's case;
- taking their own witness through unread oral evidence;
- re-examining their own witness;
- cross-examining another party's witness
is a matter for the Inspector to decide and the issue will be raised during his/her opening announcement. In inquiries where there is a great deal of public interest it may be hard for interested people to see what is going on, or to identify who is speaking, and it may help them follow the proceedings if advocates stand when making their opening and closing addresses and also when they are cross-examined and re-examined. The Inspector will generally ask witnesses and third parties to sit at the witness table.
