Also known as: field
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A specialized domain of knowledge or activity in which experts or legal rules apply particular standards or meanings.
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Frederick Ferguson, an engineer, reviewed lab reports and industry manuals he had not personally created to form his opinion on structural failure. The court admitted the opinion because experts in the engineering field routinely rely on such data even if the underlying reports would be inadmissible hearsay.
Felicia Fuentes was stopped for speeding. A certified narcotics dog alerted on her trunk. Officers searched without a warrant and found drugs. The alert alone established probable cause because the dog's training and certification demonstrated reliability in the field of detection work.
Flora Ford contracted to sell equipment using the term 'yield strength' in the metals industry. When a dispute arose, the court interpreted the phrase according to its technical meaning in the metallurgy field rather than any ordinary usage.
Francisco Frost owned land straddling two states. When title issues arose, the court weighed the factors in the field of property law, giving special weight to the parties' justified expectations and the situs state's policies.
Fiona Foster sought to establish paternity. The laboratory performed accredited DNA testing of the type experts in the genetic-testing field reasonably rely upon. The results were admitted because the lab held the required AABB accreditation.
Felix Franco challenged an executive order restricting entry from certain countries. The court applied rational-basis review because the order addressed national security in the field of immigration and foreign affairs, deferring to the political branches.
The proponent may disclose such facts only if their probative value in helping the jury evaluate the opinion substantially outweighs their prejudicial effect.
A trained and certified dog's alert provides probable cause absent special circumstances undermining the dog's reliability.
Technical terms and words of art receive their technical meaning when used in a transaction within their technical field.
…Amdt. 14, §1. Worse, it invites judges to do exactly what the majority has done here—“ ‘roa[m] at large in the constitutional field’ guided only by their personal views” as to the “ ‘fundamental rights’ ” protected by that document. Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey , 505 U.S. 833, 953, 965 (1992)…