Understanding Evidence

This Understanding treatise presents the essential topics in evidence law cogently and concisely. While it was written primarily for students in Evidence and Trial Practice courses, the ''Key Points'' summary at the end of each chapter and the inclusion of the current Federal Rules of Evidence in an appendix make this treatise an excellent reference for busy attorneys.

Understanding Evidence begins with an overview of Evidence law followed by an explanation of the roles of the judge and jury. The remaining chapters are organized under the following topics:

• Procedural Framework of Trial

• Relevancy

• Witnesses

• Real and Demonstrative Evidence

• Writings

• Hearsay

• Privileges

• Substitutes for Evidence

This treatise extensively discusses and cites the Federal Rules of Evidence. Cases, statutes, other rules, and secondary sources are also cited, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding evidence law.*

Contents

• Overview of evidence law

• Roles of judge and jury : FRE 614

• Stages of trial

• Burdens of proof

• Presumptions and inferences : FRE 301

• Objections and offers of proof : FRE 103

• Preliminary questions of admissibility : FRE 104

• Limited admissibility : FRE 105

• Relevancy and its limits : FRE 401-403

• Character evidence : FRE 404, 405, 412-15

• Other-acts evidence : FRE 404(b)

• Habit evidence : FRE 406

• Subsequent remedial measures : FRE 407

• Compromises and offers : FRE 408

• Medical payments : FRE 409

• Criminal pleas and offers : FRE 410

• Liability insurance : FRE 411

• Witness competency : FRE 601, 603, 605, 606

• Sequestration of witnesses : FRE 615

• Examination of witnesses : FRE 611

• Refreshing recollection : FRE 612

• Witness credibility : FRE 607-609, 613

• Lay witnesses : FRE 602 and 701

• Expert testimony : FRE 702, 704, 706

• Bases of expert testimony : FRE 703 and 705

• Real and demonstrative evidence

• Photographs, tapes, and voice identifications

• Authentication of writings : FRE 901-903

• Rule of completeness : FRE 106

• "Best evidence" rule : FRE 1001-1008

• Hearsay rule : FRE 801(a)-(c), 802, 805, 806

• Hearsay exemptions : FRE 801(d)

• Hearsay exceptions : FRE 803

• Hearsay exceptions : unavailable declarant : FRE 804

• Residual exception : FRE 807

• Right of confrontation

• Privileges : FRE 501

• Attorney-client privilege

• Spousal and family privileges

• Doctor and psychotherapist privileges

• Other private privileges

• Governmental privileges

• Privilege against self-incrimination

• Judicial notice : FRE 201

• Stipulations