The Counsel-Witness Battle of Identities on Cross-Examination at the High Court of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This paper examines courtroom interactions between members of the juridical field and the laity who come in as witnesses, to identify the identity struggles and how these struggles are likely to affect adjudication. It analyses this struggle through examination of ethos. The results of identity struggles reveal counsel enjoying identity access and discourse resources to denounce the witness who has only the response move to operate from. The witness only flouts authoritative discourse not as much to denounce counsel ' s ethos, but to protect himself. The study further shows that this struggle goes against the view of the law-society relationship that looks at the judiciary is a trustee of the rule of law, administering the law for the benefit of the entire community. Cross-examination has failed to become a process that is substantively just and humane. The layperson remains a
stranger in the courtroom.
Keywords: ethos, counsel, witness, social identity approach, identity struggle
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