Evidence

Catalog description

Evidence law is a system of rules and standards that regulates proof of facts in adjudication. This course will conduct a study of the law of evidence under the federal model (Federal Rules of Evidence) and its state equivalents. This study will include: the nature of fact-finding in adversarial trials; generalizations and judicial notice; burdens and standards of proof; relevancy, probative value and prejudicial effect; character evidence; witness testimony and its trial examination, including impeachment; the hearsay rule, its principal exceptions and the Confrontation doctrine; the opinion rule, expert testimony and the workings of scientific data in courts; authentication of documentary and physical evidence and the best evidence doctrine; and, finally, the evidentiary privileges grounded upon policies extraneous to fact-finding. Tested on the Bar Exam.