Evidence Intro Cards Flashcards
What is “laying a foundation” for evidence?
A party introduce evidence must include preliminary facts needed to establish that the evidence is authentic and relevant in order to be admitted.
What types of witnesses must have personal knowledge in order to testify?
A lay witness.
What types of witnesses need not have personal knowledge in order to testify?
An expert witness.
How can a witness rely on evidence during testimony?
If a witness has trouble remembering a fact or prior statement, the witness can view the evidence to refresh his memory.
How does a party request the court to disallow evidence?
By objecting. A party may ask for an offer of proof.
What is lay testimony?
Testimony by an individual what is not qualified as an expert on that subject
What sort of opinion testimony is proper? Three types: (i) when opinion testimony is _______ - _________ on the witness’s perception; (ii) when opinion testimony is _________ - ____ - _______________ the witness’s testimony and; and (iii) when opinion testimony does not offer any _______, _________, or other __________ ___________.
(i) rationally-based; (ii) helpful in understanding; and (iii) scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge.
What are the characteristics of a competent witness?
A competent witness must be able to testify truthfully and accurately. A witness is presumed competent until proven otherwise.
What is Judicial Notice as evidence?
The court may take recognition of a commonly known and certain fact not reasonable to dispute without the need for either party to prove it.
What is the role of the Judge in managing deviance?
A judge makes all legal rules on the legal matters.
What is limited admissibility of evidence?
Evidence may be admitted specifically for one purpose (but not another) or against one party (but not another); the Court (upon a timely request) must instruct the jury to the limited use of the evidence.
What is a legal presumption?
An inference/assumption that a fact exists because another fact is known, or has been proven. A presumption may be conclusive or rebuttable.
What is conclusive presumption of fact?
An inference that cannot be overcome by evidence.
What is a rebuttable presumption of fact?
An inference that can be overcome by contrary evidence.
What is the standard of review for the trial court’s admission of evidence?
Abuse-of-Discretion.
What is the normal scope of witness examination (what are the three steps in the witness exam process)?
(i) direct examination (a party questioning its own witness); (ii) cross-examination (a party examining an adverse party’s witness after direct examination); and (iii) redirect examination (a party’s second chance to question its own witness).
In what phase of questioning are leading questions (questions which suggest an answer) allowed?
During Cross-Examination.
What is a leading question?
A question that suggests an answer.
What sort of questions are barred, in general, from a witness?
Misleading, confusing, inflammatory, compound, narrative-response-request, speculation, and asked and answered.
What does it mean to exclude a witness?
The Court must, upon request, or may, by its own motion, order a witness to leave the courtroom so that the witness does not hear the testimony of the other witnesses.
Who cannot be excluded from the courtroom as a witness?
(i) parties to the matter; (ii) a party’s designated representative (if the party is not a natural person); (ii) a person’s who’s presence is essential to the case; or (iv) a person authorized by statute to be present.
What is witness impeachment?
The discrediting of a witness veracity or reliability.
Who can impeach a witness?
Any party.
What does it mean to rehabilitate a witness?
To improve the witness’s credibility following impeachment.
What is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic evidence, in the context of witness impeachment?
Intrinsic evidence is the witness’s own testimony. Extrinsic evidence is evidence other than the witnesses’s testimony. Both forms are permissible (some exception to extrinsic evidence) to impeach a witness.
How does a party properly impeach a witness based on inconsistency?
Demonstration of inconsistencies in the witness’s testimony, including inconsistencies with prior statement
Before a party can impeach a witness for bias, it must ______ a _________ and then introduce _________ __________ of bias
Lay a foundation; introduce extrinsic evidence of bias
Criminal Conviction can be asked in cross-examination if (i) the crime was punishable by _____ or _____________ or if (ii) the crime involved a ________ ____ ____ _______ _________.
(i) death or imprisonment (>1= 1 year) or (ii) a dishonest act or false statement
When can a party inquire into a witness’s prior bad acts not resulting in a conviction, in order to test the witness’s character and truthfulness?
When the party has a plausible, good faith basis for doing so.
What is the permissible method to question a witnesses’ character for truthfulness? (three responses).
Call another witness to testify about the witnesses’s reputation for untruthfulness or opinion about the witness’s bad character for truthfulness. A party can also ask a witness in cross-examination about specific instances of conduct indicative of her bad character for truthfulness. A party can also ask a witness about their prior criminal convictions.
What sort of action is prohibited in questioning a witness’s character for truthfulness?
No extrinsic evidence can be used to prove prior bad acts.
What is impeachment based on the ability to observe, remember, or relate accurately?
A party may impeach a witness with examination or extrinsic evidence based on the witness’s inability to observe, real, ore relate facts accurately
When can a party rehabilitate a witness’s credibility?
Generally only after it has been attacked. In general, evidence used to rehabilitate must directly answer the impeachment evidence.
What is impeachment by contradiction?
Showing the witness is unreliable based on specific contradictions in the witness’s present testimony and other prior statements.
What is the prosecutor’s duty on evidence that might impeach a government witness?
The prosecutor must disclose evidence in a criminal case that might impeach a prosecution witness whose testimony relates to the defendant’s culpability. This is materially exculpatory evidence
What is the relevancy requirement for evidence?
Evidence must be relevant and no exclusion rule can apply. Irrelevant evidence is not admissible.
What is the probative value of evidence?
The degree to which evidence makes a material fact more or less likely.
What is the test for relevancy of evidence?
Evidence is relevant if it has the tendency to make the existence of any material fact more or less probable than it would be without the evidence.
When can a court still exclude relevant evidence?
When (under FRE 403) the evidence’s probative value is substantially outweighed by the risk of unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, misleading the jury, undue delay, waste of time, our needless presenting cumulative evidence.
What is evidence authentication?
The process of proving that the evidence is what the party claims it is. Evidence must be proven to be admissible.
What is character evidence?
Character evidence is evidence regarding a person’s mental and moral qualities. It is generally not admissible, but is available in specific circumstances.
What are the methods for proving character?
(a) Direct Examination – character may be proven on direct examination by testimony about the person’s reputation or testimony in the form of an opinion; (b) Cross-Examination – in ross, a party may ask a witness about specific instances of the person’s conduct; (c) Essential Element catchall – if character is an essential element of the claim, any legal method can be used to prove the evidence.
Is a witness presumed competent to testify?
Yes. If otherwise, their lack of competence must be demonstrated.
The recognition of a commonly known and certain fact which does not require either side to prove it is called ________ ___________.
Judicial Notice
Can a party to the matter be excluded from the courtroom?
No.
Can a party’s designated representative (if the party is not a natural person) be excluded from the courtroom?
No.
Can a person’s who’s presence is essential to the case be excluded from the courtroom?
No.
Can a person’s who is authorized by statute to be present be excluded from the courtroom?
No.
Does FRE 403 allow a Court to exclude evidence that can cause unfair prejudice?
Yes, if the excluded evidence’s probative value is substantially outweighed by the harm.
Does FRE 403 allow a Court to exclude evidence that can confuse the issues?
Yes, if the excluded evidence’s probative value is substantially outweighed by the harm.
Does FRE 403 allow a Court to exclude evidence that can mislead the jury?
Yes, if the excluded evidence’s probative value is substantially outweighed by the harm.
Does FRE 403 allow a Court to exclude evidence that can cause undue delay?
Yes, if the excluded evidence’s probative value is substantially outweighed by the harm.