Permission to approach the witness is a request made by an attorney during a court proceeding to ask the presiding judge for permission before approaching the witness on the stand. The judge may grant or deny the request based on the specific rules of the court and the specific circumstances of the trial. The customary request is often posed in the following manner: "Your Honor, may I approach the witness?" or "Permission to approach the witness, your Honor?"
[Last updated in January of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]