Navigating the Federal Trial offers practical advice from a federal judge who has spent his professional life in federal court. This work is an ideal guide for any attorney who wants to practice in federal court, but does not have extensive trial experience. With a focus on skill building, it covers each of the relevant phases of trial practice, including: Pretrial preparation Jury instructions Legally sufficient objections to witness testimony, exhibits, and other evidence at trial Motions in limine Voir dire Opening statements Direct and cross-examination Evidentiary foundation for exhibits Computerized and computer-generated evidence Character and other related evidence Expert and lay opinion testimony Closing statements The 1972 Advisory Committee Notes to the Federal Rules of Evidence Appellate standards of review for evidentiary and other trial-related issues Appendices containing forms, checklists, and other resources The hypotheticals explain the points made in the text and each one carries a storyline throughout the book.