An Actual Witness Examination
Alameda County District Attorney's Office publication "The Point of View"

In a murder trial, the defense attorney was cross-examining a pathologist. Here's what happened:

ATTORNEY: Before you signed the death certificate, had you taken the pulse?
CORONER: No.

ATTORNEY: Did you listen to the heart?
CORONER: No.

ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
CORONER: No.

ATTORNEY: So, when you signed the death certificate you weren't sure the man was dead, were you?
CORONER: Well, let me put it this way. The man's brain was sitting in a jar on my desk. But I guess it's possible he could be out there practicing law somewhere.