What term describes questions posed to a witness or deponent?

The term that describes questions posed to a witness or deponent is "examination." This process involves asking questions to obtain testimony, either in court or during deposition proceedings. During an examination, the attorney seeks to clarify facts, gather information, and assess the credibility of the witness's account. This term is crucial in legal contexts as it encompasses both direct examination, where the attorney questions their own witness, and cross-examination, where they question an opposing witness.

In this context, an exhibit refers to physical evidence or documents presented in a trial, while a grand jury is a body that examines evidence presented by prosecutors to determine if there is sufficient cause to charge someone with a crime. An expert, on the other hand, refers to a witness with specialized knowledge who can provide opinion evidence in court. Thus, "examination" is the most fitting term for the process of questioning a witness or deponent.