When do depositions occur?

• A. Before trial.
• B. During trial.
• C. After the trial.
• D. At sentencing.

Answer: (A)

Depositions are a pretrial discovery step where a witness answers questions under oath outside the courtroom, with attorneys present and a record made. They occur before the trial as part of preparing for the testimony and to lock in statements while memories are fresh. This helps the sides assess credibility, plan their strategy, and anticipate what will be said at trial. They don’t take place during the trial itself, after the trial has concluded, or at sentencing, since those stages involve live court proceedings, post-trial actions, or punishment decisions rather than pretrial fact-finding.