Also known as:admit evidence · admitted evidence · admitting evidence · admits evidence · evidence admission
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A court's determination that proffered material satisfies the requirements for introduction at trial. The determination turns on whether the evidence meets standards of relevance, reliability, and compliance with exclusionary rules such as those governing hearsay, character, and authentication.
Sources & Authorities· 13 primary sources
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Cases
Federal Rules
Uniform Acts
Dictionaries
How it applies
Common Examples
6
Impeaching Absent Hearsay Declarant
Aurora Biotech introduced a former employee's out-of-court email accusing a rival of stealing trade secrets. After the email came in, Atlas Ventures offered proof that the employee had falsified expense reports in a prior job. The court permitted the impeachment because the declarant's credibility could be attacked once the hearsay statement had been admitted.
Forfeiting Appeal by Taking the Sting Out
Adrian Aguilar faced trial on fraud charges. After the judge denied his motion to exclude a prior theft conviction, he introduced the conviction himself during direct examination to blunt its impact. On appeal he could not challenge the admission because his own introduction of the evidence waived review.
Failing to Preserve Objection to Admission
Aisha Ahmed offered an unauthenticated spreadsheet at trial. Opposing counsel made only a general relevance objection without stating authentication grounds on the record. The appellate court refused to consider the claim of error because the specific ground had not been timely asserted.
Limiting Instruction for Dual-Purpose Evidence
Alice Atkins sued Apollo Energy for breach of contract and offered internal memos that mentioned prior regulatory violations. The court admitted the memos solely to show Apollo's knowledge of industry standards and, on timely request, instructed the jury to consider them for that purpose alone.
Admitting Prior Sexual Assault in Assault Prosecution
The government charged Angela Acosta with sexual assault. It offered testimony that she had committed a similar assault two years earlier. The court admitted the evidence because the defendant stood accused of sexual assault and the prior act was relevant to any material issue.
Admitting Other Child Molestation Acts
Amelia Amari stood trial for child molestation. The prosecution introduced evidence that she had molested another child five years earlier. The court allowed the testimony because the defendant was accused of child molestation and the evidence could be considered on any relevant matter.
Common questions
Frequently Asked
6
When may a party attack the credibility of a declarant whose hearsay statement has been admitted?+
Once a hearsay statement is admitted, the declarant's credibility may be attacked by any evidence that would be admissible if the declarant had testified. This includes proof of inconsistent statements or conduct regardless of timing or opportunity to explain.
Supporting sources
Does a defendant forfeit appellate review by introducing a prior conviction after losing a motion to exclude it?+
Yes. When a defendant preemptively introduces the conviction on direct examination to lessen its impact, the defendant may not later claim on appeal that admission of the conviction was error.
What must a party do to preserve a claim that evidence was improperly admitted?+
The party must make a timely objection or motion to strike on the record and state the specific ground unless it was apparent from context. Failure to do so prevents the party from claiming error on appeal.
Supporting sources
When must a court give a limiting instruction after admitting evidence?+
If evidence is admissible against one party or for one purpose but not another, the court must, on timely request, restrict the evidence to its proper scope and instruct the jury accordingly.
Supporting sources
Under what circumstances may evidence of other sexual assaults be admitted in a sexual assault prosecution?+
In a criminal case charging sexual assault, the court may admit evidence that the defendant committed any other sexual assault. The evidence may be considered on any matter to which it is relevant.
Supporting sources
Under what circumstances may evidence of other child molestation be admitted in a child molestation prosecution?+
In a criminal case charging child molestation, the court may admit evidence that the defendant committed any other child molestation. The evidence may be considered on any matter to which it is relevant.
Supporting sources
evidence
bearing on the truth or falsity of the utterances, is open to no Constitutional objection. Whether the facts sought to be proved by such
evidence
constitute a…
which took place in the Berger case, where only two conspiracies involving four persons all told were proved, and an entirely different thing to apply the same rule where, as here, only…
EvidencePresentation of evidence · Impeachment, contradiction, and rehabilitationUBEIntermediate