Also known as: prosecutors case in chief · prosecutor case-in-chief · case-in-chief · case in chief
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
The segment of a criminal trial during which the prosecution presents its affirmative evidence to prove the elements of the charged offense.
After police questioned Pierce Patterson without warnings, they obtained a confession. The prosecution refrained from offering the statement during its presentation of evidence to prove the elements of the crime. The court excluded it from that portion of the trial because of the Miranda violation.
Police interviewed Paul Peterson after his right to counsel had attached and without counsel present. The prosecution presented other witnesses and documents during its affirmative presentation but did not introduce the uncounseled statement to establish guilt. The court ruled the statement inadmissible for that purpose.
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After arrest, Phoebe Park remained silent when advised of her rights. The prosecution called its witnesses and introduced physical evidence during its main presentation but did not reference her silence to prove the offense. The court prevented any such use in that phase of trial.
The prosecution introduced a statement obtained without proper warnings during its presentation of evidence. On appeal the court examined whether the error affected the outcome of that portion of the trial and concluded the remaining evidence independently established the elements.
The prosecution sought to introduce prior bad acts of Pedro Pacheco during its affirmative case. The court restricted the evidence to matters directly relevant to the charged offense and excluded broader character proof from that segment of trial.
Officers obtained a statement from Portia Price without fresh warnings after she had invoked her rights. The prosecution presented its other evidence to prove the crime but did not offer the statement during that portion of the trial. The court enforced the exclusion from the case-in-chief.
The prosecution may introduce evidence that establishes the elements of the offense, including witness testimony, documents, and physical items that are properly disclosed and admissible under the rules of evidence.
No. Statements obtained in violation of Miranda, even if voluntary, are inadmissible during the prosecution's presentation of its affirmative evidence to prove guilt.
The government must disclose items it intends to use in its case-in-chief, including expert opinions and certain documents, so the defense receives notice before trial.
No. Evidence obtained from an illegal search is inadmissible during the prosecution's affirmative presentation of proof, although it may be available for other limited purposes such as impeachment.
…subject matter of this common-law suit. At the trial petitioner adduced evidence upon the issue of negligence and rested his case in chief. Thereupon respondent, in support of its affirmative defense, adduced evidence tending to show (1) that its charter, issued under the Rural Electric Cooperative Act of South Carolina (S. C.…