FL Evidence Flashcards
can inadmissible material be considered in prelim Qs of admissibility?
no
What cant a judge do after the Presentation of Evidence
A Florida judge CANNOT:
> Summarize or comment the evidence;
Comment on a witnesses’ credibility
Comment on the guilt of the accused
What legislative facts can a FL judge take judicial notice of
> MUST take notice of U.S./FL statewide laws
MAY take notice of other laws (not state, foreign etc.)
Do FL judges have to take judicial notice of adjudicative fact?
> Judge MAY take judicial notice of other adjudicative facts not subject to dispute
Judge MUST when:
> A party requests judicial notice of an adjudicative fact + provides notice to OC + presents sufficient info to court
When the court does take judicial notice of a fact, what do they instruct the jury?
Civil cases:
> either that the jury:
- MUST or MAY accept accept a fact true
(so they take it but jury doesn’t have to)
Criminal cases:
> that the jury MAY accept a fact true
Sometimes witnesses may be excluded from the court during
the testimony of other witnesses.
In FL, who cannot be excluded?
Civil cases:
> a natural person party
> Designated officer or employee of a non-natural party (ex: a corp)
> A person whose presence is
necessary to the presentation of the party’s case.
Criminal cases:
> the victim + their next of kin
> parent/guardian of a minor victim
> the victim’s lawful representative
**BUT CAN be excluded if determined that it’d be prejudicial to the accused)
what are the 3 types of presumptions in FL
(1) conclusive presumptions
(2) bursting bubble presumptions (boom proved u wrong)
(3) burden shifting presumptions (boom, now u have to boom back)
(the last 2 are both types of rebuttable presumptions)
How can Character Evidence be proven when admissible?
Reputation only, not opinion testimony
what can the prosecution do after the defendant attacks the character of the victim? who does the door open to?
The prosecutor can use reputation evidence of the victim’s character to rebutt
> the door DOES NOT open for character evidence on defendant
in a case where character is an essential element of a charge/claim/defense, what is the required evidence standard of specific acts?
CIVIL:
Specific acts will only be admissible if the jury could find the act actually occurred by CLEAR AND CONVINCING
CRIMINAL:
To use specific acts for MIMIC
- the prosecution has to give D at least 10 DAYS NOTICE!!!
- describe which acts they intend to use
- Judge has to hold a Williams hearing to determine if a jury could make a finding by clear and convincing evidence + probative value is subs outweighed by prejudice
(Williams hearing is not required to use MIMIC as impeachment or rebuttal)
Reverse Williams Rule:
If D wants to claim someone else did it, by showing specific acts, what’s the evidentiary standard to meet?
D say: no look he did it !!!
the acts are strikingly similar !!!!
Routine or Habit Evidence
Organization:
> habit evidence admissible to prove they acted in accordance
Person’s habit: (only as support)
> habit evidence is only admissible to corroborate (not prove) other evidence that already shows the habit was followed
Child as Witness
oath may not be required if the court determines the child understands duty:
- to tell the truth
- to not lie
minor under age of 18 can be assisted in sexual case cases w service animals
Interpreters
Interpreters may be used for any witness who needs assistance understanding or communicating
Impeachment:
Character for Truthfulness
Can’t use specific acts of untruthfulness on cross-examination, unless
they amount to a conviction
how can an attacked witness be rehabilitated
Only by a reputation witness
Use of Prior Convictions to impeach
civil:
prior convictions ok if judge decide its not too remote in time to have bearing on the witness’s character
crim:
- admissible if probative value > unfair prejudice
- no 10 yr restriction
Impeachment:
pardons
you can use convictions that have been pardoned
Impeachment:
Juvenile convictions
CANT use of juvenile convictions for impeachment
Impeachment:
Procedure in Florida for use of prior convictions
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? Or misdemeanor involving dishonesty
How many times?
Can’t ask about the specifics of the prior conviction (including naming the crime) unless the accused is either
>untruthful
> denies the conviction
D’s reputation character witnesses can be cross-examined as to if they heard of specific arrests or convictions of the defendant
Impeachment:
Prior Inconsistent Statements of the Witness
before attacking the witnesses’ credibility w the use of prior inconsistent statements, the witness has to be give those statements IF the ad verse party requests so
Impeachment:
Prior Inconsistent Statements of the Witness through extrinsic evdience
before using extrinsic evidence of
the prior statement, the non-party witness must be shown the statement and allowed an opportunity to explain or deny
true or false:
Generally, before extrinsic evidence of a prior statement is permitted in Florida, the non-party witness must be shown the statement and allowed an opportunity to explain or deny.
true
When is lay Witnesses Opinion Testimony admissible
If
(i) the witness cannot adequately or accurately communicate her
perception without providing an opinion, and
(ii) the opinion does not
mislead the jury
can an expert witness give an opinion on D’s mental state?
Yes, expert can give opinion on whether D had the required mental state
* cant give opinion that amounts to legal conclusion though (whether D had depraved mind etc)
Can A qualified expert opinion can be given as to negligence, even if the opinion goes to the ultimate issue?
yes
Tangible Evidence
can you let a picture in instead of the property when proving theft of that item
yes but the pic must include:
> description
> name of owner
> where pic was taken
> name of officer investigating
> date of pic
> name/signature of photographer
> made under oath by officer
Best Evidence Rule
Follows FRE:
Requires that an original or reliable duplicate of a recording, writing, or photograph be produced to prove its contents
unless the document is a duplicate of a writing evidencing a right to the payment of money like a negotiable interest/a security. Then it is NOT admissible
Under the Best Evidence Rule when will other evidence of the originals be admissible in lieu of the originals?
When all of the originals are lost or destroyed
and
its loss or destruction is not the result of the proponent acting in bad faith.
Tangible Evidence:
FL Business Records
> business records can be admitted w/out calling witness if:
> it contains and affidavit starting the regularity and maintenance of the business record AND
the affidavit is made by the custodian of the record or another qualified person
how many privileges does FL have listed in the code
10
Florida Husband-Wife Privilege (Marital Communications Privilege)
> protects confidential ingo between spouses made during marriage
both hold the privilege even after marriage so one can prevent the other
Doesn’t apply if:
- suing each other
- crim case regarding them/property/a child
- In a crim case, the privilege doesn’t apply introduced by the defendant spouse
Does FL have the Spousal Immunity Privilege?
No, FL only recognizes the Marital Communications Privilege
aka Husband-wife privilege
Florida Lawyer-Client Privilege
in addition to FRE rules, it also protects:
> communications between w dept of revenue child enforcement lawyer
> a fiduciary/guardian for another person and the lawyer
Doesn’t apply to:
> parties claiming through same deceased client
> anytime a lawyer is also the attesting witness to the signing of a doc
Florida Physician-Patient Privilege
FRE + doesn’t apply when its the condition of the patient is at issue or in malpractice cases by patient against the doctor
Florida Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege
protects communication for the diagnosis/treatment of:
> mental/emotional conditions
> alcoholism/drug addition (group meetings aren’t confidential)
> Patient holds the privilege, but psychotherapist asserts it
> doesn’t apply to court ordered exams/commitment proceedings
Other privileges
Florida Clergy-Penitent
> Protects comm. seeking spiritual counsel except if in group
Florida Accountant-Client
> Protects client/accountant comm. + exceptions same as attny/client
Florida Journalist Privilege
> Professional journalists have piv to not disclose info/ID of sources
> unless of physical evidence, eyewitness observation, or recordings of crimes
> if compelling interest, court can order disclosure
> Priv isn’t waived just bc they publish or broadcast the info
> doesn’t apply to nonprofessional journalists
Are Statements made during mediation confidential?
yes unless waived by all parties
are the FL mandatory accident reports admissible in court
No, excluded in both civil and criminal cases
we dont want ur little cop report
Are statements of sympathy admissible?
No, but but statements indicating fault ARE admissible
What type of privilege do victims of sexual assault or domestic violence have
Privilege to:
> not disclose comm. with a sexual assault or DV counselor
> Can prevent the counselor from disclosing such communications
FL Rape Shield
Victim’s past consensual sexual activity w/ others is not admissible unless:
> conduct is so similar to present case that it becomes relevant as to consent
> to prove D wasn’t the source of semen, pregnancy, injury, disease
Admissions Exception
(statement by party opponent)
same as FRE + D can use statements made by govt agents against the prosecution
Co-Conspirator Statements
we dont trust words, first action that there was conspiracy
FL doesn’t allow the statements of co-conspirators to come in to prove there was a conspiracy
In FL, a judge is required to first find that there is evidence INDEPENDENT of the statements to prove the conspiracy before admitting co-conspirator’s statements
same w/ Defendants. they’re statements wont come in to prove conspiracy, the conspiracy needs to be proven first