This course provides a detailed and practical examination of the law of evidence as it governs the presentation, admission, and exclusion of proof in American trials. Emphasizing the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE), students will explore key evidentiary doctrines, including relevance, character evidence, hearsay and its exceptions, expert testimony, privileges, impeachment, and authentication.
The course integrates both doctrinal study and litigation-oriented reasoning, training students to identify evidentiary issues, formulate objections, and craft strategies for presenting or excluding evidence in trial settings. Whether in civil or criminal cases, evidentiary rules shape trial outcomes and demand precision, logic, and fairness. This course equips students to navigate the evidentiary landscape with clarity and ethical awareness.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
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Interpret and apply the Federal Rules of Evidence in a variety of trial contexts.
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Analyze doctrinal justifications for admitting or excluding evidence.
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Develop strategic thinking regarding evidence presentation and objection.
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Evaluate the impact of evidentiary rulings on both legal and factual issues at trial.
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Identify constitutional limits on evidence rules, particularly under the Confrontation Clause.
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Distinguish between reliable and prejudicial evidence, and apply the Rule 403 balancing test.
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Understand how evidentiary rules interact with trial tactics, ethics, and advocacy.
