What action is referred to when the opposing counsel questions a witness?

The action referred to when the opposing counsel questions a witness is called cross-examination. This process occurs after direct examination, where the party that called the witness has the opportunity to ask questions to establish their case. In contrast, during cross-examination, the opposing side attempts to challenge the credibility of the witness's testimony and may seek to extract information that may be beneficial to their case or cast doubt on the testimony provided during direct examination.

Cross-examination is a critical component of the legal process, as it allows lawyers to confront witnesses with their statements, potentially revealing inconsistencies or biases. This phase is usually characterized by the opposing counsel asking leading questions—questions that suggest a specific answer or contain an assumption that the witness is expected to agree with.

The other options do not describe this specific action; direct examination refers to the initial questioning of a witness by the party who called them to testify. Rebuttal is the phase where a party presents additional evidence to counter the arguments made by the opposing side, typically after both sides have presented their evidence. Leading questions, while often a tactic used during cross-examination, simply represent a type of question rather than the action of questioning a witness itself. Thus, the correct term for the action of questioning a witness