Evidence Law: Admissibility Rules

Evidence law determines what information juries may consider when deciding cases. Understanding admissibility rules ensures fair trials and prevents unreliable or prejudicial evidence from influencing verdicts.

Relevance

Relevant evidence tends to make facts more or less probable. Irrelevant evidence is inadmissible. Relevant evidence may still be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by danger of unfair prejudice, confusion, or waste of time.

Conditional relevance requires sufficient evidence to support finding that preliminary facts exist. Courts determine relevance as a matter of law.

Hearsay

Hearsay is an out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Hearsay is generally inadmissible unless exceptions apply. Exceptions include excited utterances, business records, and former testimony.

Statements against interest, dying declarations, and statements of personal or family history may be admissible. Prior testimony by unavailable witnesses may be admissible in later proceedings.

Privileges

Privileges protect certain communications from disclosure. Attorney-client privilege protects confidential communications between lawyer and client. Physician-patient privilege protects medical communications. Spousal privilege protects confidential marital communications.

Privileges may be waived through voluntary disclosure. Some privileges protect only confidential communications between proper parties.

Expert Testimony

Expert witnesses may offer opinions based on specialized knowledge. Daubert standard requires scientific validity and methodology. Expert testimony assists jury in understanding complex issues beyond common knowledge.