Evidence (MBE/MEE) Flashcards
Preliminary Questions of Admissibility
- Courts apply preponderance of evidence standard to decide preliminary questions of admissibiltiy (e.g., whether witness is qualified to testify, privilege exists, etc.)
- However, when relevance of evidence is conditioned upon existence of preliminary fact, court need only find there is sufficient evidence to support (not necessarily establish) existence of preliminary fact (e.g., whether agent had actual or apparent authority)
Hearsay
- Out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted
- Not hearsay if offered to prove something other than truth of matter asserted (legally operative facts, effect on listener, state of mind, identification, impeachment and rehabilitation)
Double Hearsay
Hearsay within hearsay may be admissible if each part of combined statement conforms to hearsay exception
Non-Hearsay: Types
- Declarant Witness’ Prior Statements: (i) Prior Inconsistent Statements, (ii) Prior Consistent statements, (iii) Prior Statement of Identification
- Opposing Party’s Statement
Prior Statements: Declarant Availability
- Declarant must testify at present trial to be admissible
- Cannot apply if witness is dead or otherwise unavailable to testify
Non-Hearsay: Prior Inconsistent Statements
- Requirements: (1) Witness is cross-examinable; (2) Testimony was made under oath by witness at a trial, hearing or deposition; (3) must be offered to demonstrate witness’ prior statements are inconsistent with current testimony
- Admissibility: Impeachment of declarant’s credibility and as substantive evidence
Non-Hearsay: Prior Consistent Statements
- Requirements: (1) Witness is cross-examinable; (2) Testimony is consistent with his previous testimony, (3) Must be offered to rebut a charge of recent fabrication or improper motive/influence, or to rehabilitate the witness if attacked on some other grounds
- Statement must be made before declarant had reason to fabricate
- Admissibility: Rehabilitation and also as substantive evidence
- Note: No oath requirement
Non-Hearsay: Prior Statement of Identification
- Requirements: Declarant witness must (1) be subject to cross examination, (2) previously have observed D (ex. sketches, IDing during a lineup, etc.) , and (3) be testifying in court.
- Admissibility: Admissible as substantive evidence
Note: Technically, testimony doesn’t have to be by declarant. Instead, police officer could testify, so long as declarant is available at trial and could be called for cross-examination.
Opposing Party’s Statement
Statement is offered against an opposing party present at trial and:
(a) Individual Admission: Made by party in individual/representative capacity;
(b) Adoptive Admission: Party manifested that it adopted/believed it to be true (e.g., documents that party incorporates as an answer to an interrogatory) ;
(c) Authorized Statement: Made by person whom party authorized to make statement on subject;
(d) Vicarious Statement: Made by party’s agent/employee on matter within scope of relationship; and
(e) Conspirator Statement: Made by party’s co-conspirator during and in furtherance of conspiracy (must be some independent evidence to support finding of conspiracy aside from statement)
Admissibility: Admissible as substantive evidence
Opposing Party’s Statement: Silence as an Admission
Silence in response to a statement is considered an adoptive admission if:
* Person understood statement,
* Person had ability opportunity/ability to deny statement, and
* Reasonable person would have denied statement.
Declarant Unavailable as Witness
- Unavailable means dead, absent beyond subpoena power, lacks memory, refuses to testify, is exempted from testifying based on privilege.
- Does not apply when party wrongfully renders declarant unavailable for the purpose of preventing testimony
Note: Being a hostile witness does not mean you are unavailable
Hearsay Exceptions: Declarant Unavailable as Witness
If a declarant has been shown to be unavailable, the following hearsay exceptions are available:
* Former Testimony
* Dying Declaration
* Statement Against Interest
* Statement of Personal/Family History
* Statement Against Party That Caused Declarant’s Unavailability
Hearsay Exception: Former Testimony
- Requirements: (1) Declarant is unavailable, (2) testimony was given under oath as witness at trial, hearing, or deposition, and (3) is now offered against a party who already had an opportunity and similar motive to develop testimony (i.e. a prior chance to cross)
- Admissibility: Admissible as substantive evidence
Hearsay Exception: Dying Declaration
Admissible as substantive evidence in a homicide prosecution or civil case if:
* (1) Declarant is unavailable;
* (2) Declarant believed her death was imminent (need not actually die); and
* (3) Declarant made statement about cause or circumstance of impending death.
Hearsay Exception: Statement Against Interest
Admissible as substantive evidence if:
* (1) Declarant is unavailable;
* (2) Statement is against declarant’s pecuniary, proprietary, civil or penal interest at time made; and
* (3) Reasonable person would not have made statement unless it was true
Note: If statement would subject a declarant to criminal liability, statement must be supported by corroborating circumstances clearly indicating the trustworthiness of the statement.
Hearsay Exception: Statement of Personal/Family History
Admissible as substantive evidence if:
* (1) Declarant is unavailable; and
* (2) Statement concerns the unavailable declarant’s own birth, adoption, marriage, familial relationship, etc.
Hearsay Exception: Statement Against Party That Caused Declarant’s Unavailability
Admissible as substantive evidence if:
* (1) Declarant is unavailable; and
* (2) Party engaged in wrongdoing for purpose of making declarant unavailable to testify, rending declarant unavailable
Note: Party cannot claim declarant is unavailable and door is open to use anything declarant said against party.
Hearsay Exceptions: Declarant’s Availability Immaterial
Whether or not a declarant is available as a witness, the following hearsay exceptions are available:
* Present Sense Impression
* Excited Utterance
* Present State of Mind
* Statement Made for Medical Diagnosis/Treatment
* Recorded Recollection
* Business Records
* Public Records
* Learned Treatises
* Judgment of Previous Conviction
Hearsay Exceptions: Present Sense Impression
A statement that describes or explains an event or condition, made while or immediately after the declarant perceives the event or condition.
Hearsay Exceptions: Excited Utterance
A statement relating to a startling event or condition, made while declarant was under the stress of excitement that it caused.
Hearsay Exceptions: Present State of Mind
- Statement of declarant’s then-existing state of mind (present intent, motive, or plan) or emotional, sensory, or physical condition (such as mental feeling, pain, or bodily health)
- A statement of intent can be used to prove action in comformity with that intent.
Hearsay Exceptions: Statement for Medical Diagnosis/Treatment
A statement that:
* (A) is made for medical diagnosis or treatment; and
* (B) describes medical history, past or present symptoms or sensations, their inception, or their general cause; and
* (C) is not one of fault.
Note: Need not necessarily be made by patient nor be made to physicians
Hearsay Exceptions: Recorded Recollection
When a witness has inadequate memory to testify about a matter for which a record exists, the witness may read the record to the jury if the record:
* (A) is on a matter the witness once knew about but now cannot recall well enough to testify fully and accurately;
* (B) was made or adopted by the witness when the matter was fresh in the witness’s memory; and
* (C) accurately reflects the witness’s knowledge.
Note: If admitted, record may be read into evidence but may be received as an exhibit only if offered by an adverse party.
Note: Witness doesn’t actually have to write the record. Ex. Witness could read a license plate to another person who writes it down.
Hearsay Exceptions: Business Records
Record must be:
* Kept in course of regularly conducted business activity,
* Making of record was regular practice, and
* Record was made at or near the time by someone with knowledge and a duty to report it
Note: While medical records are often admitted under the business records exception, records prepared in anticipation of litigation are not.
Note: Business record need not actually relate to the exact occurrence at issue; can be admissible as relevant evidence of company’s routine practice