function

Hi guys i'm am trying to create a function that returns a string. when i run the report it doesn't generate. i know the problem is my cfif, b/c i have tried displaying just the string and it works. I have also tried it w/out the # , '' "". Any ideas?

<cffunction name = "test">
<cfargument name="somevar">
<cfif #query.Witnessed# IS 'Y'>
<cfset somevar="Yes">
</cfif>
<cfreturn somevar>
</cffunction>

this is the call on the report report.test()
Thanks in advance
GC