Evidence Flashcards

1
Q

Evidence

Roadmap

A
  1. Description of Trial At Issue - identify elements of cause of action, crime, and defenses to determine relevance
  2. Identify Jurisdiction - CA or fed?
  3. Know when to apply the difference - if DIVERSITY in Fed, may still be CA law
  4. Address each piece of evidence separately

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1. Relevance
2. Foundation, Personal Knowledge, Presentation
3. Form of Question/Answer
4. Character Evidence
5. Impeachment by Prior Bad Acts/Convictions
6. Hearsay
7. Hearsay Exclusions/Exceptions
8. Opinion Evidence
9. Judicial Notice
10. Prop 8
11. FRE 403/CEC 352

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2
Q

Evidence

Relevance

A

Evidence is relevant if:

  1. It has any tendency to make a fact more or less probable than it would be without the evidence and
  2. The fact is disputed and of conquence to the determine of the action.

.
FRE 403

Relevant evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by undue prejudice, confusion, or delay.

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3
Q

Evidence

Foundation

A

For testimony to be valid, Witness must have been able to perceive the subject matter to which W is testifying. In addition to personal knowledge, must testify from present recollection.
.
Must also make oath or affirmation to tell truth.

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4
Q

Evidence

Questions

A

Improper questions are subject to objections.
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Leading

A leading question suggestis the answer within the equestion, they are only permitted:

  1. On cross-examination, and
  2. On direct examination of an adverse or hostile witness

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Compound

A compund question has either two verbs in the same question, or two independent clauses

.

Calls for a Narrative

Presents an open-ended question, which give the other party no notice as to what the witness will say.

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Argumentative

Asks the witness to resolve an apparent contradiction in their testimony.

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Ask and Answer

Repeats question previously asked, except where intervening testimony justifies asking the question again.

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5
Q

Evidence

Answers

A

Improper answers are subject to motion to strike.

.
Non-responsive Answer

Answer that goes beyond the scope of the question. Subject to motion to strike to the extent that the answer is non-responsive.

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6
Q

Evidence

Character Evidence
Admissible Uses

Overview

A

Generally, evidence of a person’s character, when offered to prove that person engaged in particular conduct, is inadmissible.

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Character at Issue

Character evidence is admissible where character is an essential element of charge, claim, or defense.

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.
(1) Once Defendant “Opens the Door” to Character Evidence (Mercy Rule)
(2) Prosecutor in a Homicide Case: Victim’s Trait of Peacefulness
(3) MIAMI KOPP (Motive, Intent, Absence of Mistake or Accident, Identity, Knowledge, Opportunity, Preparation, Plan)
(4) Evidence of Habit
(5) Prior Crimes, Wrongs, & Acts

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7
Q

Evidence - Character Evidence

Sexual Assault, Child Molestation, Domestic Violence or Child Abuse

A

Sexual Assault, Child Molestation, DV, or Child Abuse

Federal Rule:

In civil or criminal case for sexual assault or child molestation, a defendant’s prior bad acts of sexual assault or child molestation are admissible to prove character trait and conduct in conformity with character trait.

.
CA Rule:

In a criminal case for sexual assault or child molestation, a defendant’s prior bad acts of sexual assault or child molestation are admissible to prove character trait and conduct in conformity with character trait.
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In criminal case for domestic violence, elder abuse, dependent abuse, or child abuse, defendant’s prior acts of the same type of abuse are admissible to prove character trait and conduct in conformity with character trait.

.

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8
Q

Evidence - Character Evidence

Defendant Character (Mercy Rule)

A

In criminal cases, the defendant may first offer opinion or reputation evidence of defendant’s relevany “good” character trait; then the prosecution may either:

  1. Rebut with opinon or reputation evidence of relevant character trait or defendant; OR
  2. Impeach the character witness using evidence of specific acts of defendant inconsistent with trait

Defendant “opens the door”

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9
Q

Evidence - Character Evidence

Victim’s Character

A

Federal

In criminal cases, once defendant offers opinion/reputation evidence of Victim’s relevant character trait, the prosecutor may rebut with opinion/reputation evidence of:

  1. Victim’s relevant good character trait, AND
  2. Defendant’s relevant bad character trait.

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In criminal homicide cases, if Defendant produces evidence that Victim is first aggressor, then prosecutor may opinion/reputation evidence of Victim’s peacefulness

.
.
California

In criminal cases, once defendant offers evidence of Victim’s character, the prosecutor may rebut with evidence of

  1. Victim’s “good” character, AND
  2. If Defendant introduces evidence of Victim’s violence, character evidence of Defendant’s violence
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10
Q

Evidence - Character Evidence

Rape Shield

A

Character evidence is prohibited to prove Victim’s consent for sexual crimes:

  1. In criminal cases
  2. In civil cases for sexual harassment, assault, or battery
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11
Q

Evidence - Character Evidence

Specific Acts for Non-Character Purposes

A

Specific acts of party admissible for noncharacter purposes
.
Motive
Intent
Absence of
Mistake or Accident
Identity

Knowledge
Opportunity
Preparation
Plan

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12
Q

Evidence - Character Evidence

Evidence of Habit & Custom

A

Not character evidence
.
Must be:

  1. Repetitive;
  2. Predictable; and
  3. Predictive.

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Evidence of Habit

Admissible to prove that an individual acted in conformity with the habit on a specific occassion.

.
Evidence of Custom

Admissible to prove that an organization conformed its operations to custom on a specific occasion.

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13
Q

Evidence - Character Evidence

Similar Occurences

A

Evidence of similar occurences is admissible when:

  1. Used to prove relevant proposition other than character, AND
  2. The similar occurences are substantially similar to the issue in the present case.
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14
Q

Evidence - Policy Exclusions

Policy Exclusions

A
  1. Subsequent Remedial Measures
  2. Offers of Compromise
  3. Offers to Pay Medical Expenses, Humanitarian Offers
  4. Liability Insurance
  5. Withdrawn Pleas
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15
Q

Evidence

A
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16
Q

Evidence

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17
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Evidence

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18
Q

Evidence

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