The present study is aimed at exploring the linguistic strategies through which judges elicit responses in cases involving DNA paternity tests in the courtroom. It will specifically focus on the following: what types of questions are asked by judges (open, closed, declarative, tag, modal, yes/no, choice, consultative), and how these question types affect communication and decision making. The paper draws upon data from transcripts of court sessions involving cases of paternity disputes to see how different techniques of questioning inform dynamics within the courtroom, influence the clarity of information exchange, and hence affect outcomes of paternity disputes. Results show that judges make deliberate and strategic use of their questions to bring out information and guide their way through technicalities while remaining fair and in control. Therefore, an understanding of the exact linguistic features characterizing questions posed by judges will help in understanding courtroom discourse, which has implications for legal practice and justice administration.