AJ 104 Chapter 1

Introduction

What is Evidence

Something that proves or disproves allegations and assertions.

In the legal sense, includes only what is “introduced” at trial.

What is Evidence

Testimony of Witnesses Documents Physical Objects Marketing Statistics Exams Experiments Video (In matters of fidelity)

Why is Evidence Gathered?

Why do police gather evidence?

What kinds of things can be used as evidence?

In The Video, What Could be Used as Evidence?

Evidence & The Burden of Proof

Burden of Proof – To produce credible evidence to prove the element of each crime charged.

Why is considered credible evidence???The smoking gun…….The bloody knife…….?????

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

What is beyond a reasonable doubt? Proof that leaves you firmly convinced In a criminal case it is the standard used in which a

defendant is convicted. Who’s responsibility is it to establish beyond a

reasonable doubt? Why?

What Burden does the Defense Has? Does the Defense have to prove beyond a

reasonable doubt? No…..except Affirmative Defenses

Self-Defense Duress Intoxication Entrapment Insanity

The Defense must “introduce" evidence.

The Burden of Persuasion

The defense can try to persuade a jury that the prosecution has not established the defendant’s guilt.“If the glove don’t fit, you must acquit”

Judge

Trier of the lawJudge (referee) – decides what is evidence

admissible (testimony, photos, etc.)Rules on questioning of witnesses

Objection “sustained” or overruled” Uses prior case rulings Judicial Discretion

Juries

A jury is a body of persons convened to render a verdict (finding of fact) on a legal question officially submitted to them, or to set a penalty or judgment in a jury trial of a court of law

Jury

Trier of Facts The credibility of the witnesses The weight to be given to the testimony of each

witness How the facts manage the definition of the crime If the prosecution has established the case

beyond a reasonable doubt Has anyone in the class served on a jury?

The History of Evidence

The rules of evidence were designed to control the judge and jury

In the Middle Ages such abuses as:Star Chamber, Inquisition forcing the

suspects to confessTorture chambers were designed to force

confessions

History of Juries

Greek First to rely on the community to pass

judgement on a variety of cases. Initially, the entire population was required to

serve.Eventually, jurors were drawn from a cross

section of the community. (dicastery)

History of Juries

RomanRelied on an early form of the jury system.Juries consisted of 35 – 75 members.Common law juries had the function of

investigating crimes as well as conducting trials of the accused.

The “Rules of Evidence”

Each state has its separate rules Each state enacts its own laws and rules

of evidence Exception:

Cases involving or under the control of the U.S. Constitution

Sources of Evidence Law

U.S. Constitution U.S. Supreme Court Federal Courts Federal Rules of Evidence State Rules of Evidence State Case Law

U.S. Constitution

The Constitution has little bearing on evidence If there is a violation in the defendant’s

constitutional rights can evidence obtained be used?

The most significant Amendment that will impact this course is which?

U.S. Supreme Court

The final arbiter of the meaning of the U.S. Constitution

Very selective in the cases they hear The court supervises the federal court

system.

Federal Courts

U.S. Court of Appeals (13) Hear cases involving violations of federal

statutes Will hear final appeals prior to a death

sentence

Federal Rules of Evidence

Laws governing the admission of evidence

Enacted by Congress Comprehensive set of rules designed to

work together as whole.

State Rules of Evidence

Each state can enact their own evidence Many states follow the FRE Arizona & California combined their state

rules with the federal rules

State Case Law

When they are not state laws present, the laws of other states (not binding) may influence a judge in a ruling.

If argued persuasively, it can “informally” affect the outcome of a case.

Impact of Case Law

U.S. Supreme Court interprets the ConstitutionThese rulings apply to the entire country

Miranda, Roe v. Wade State courts can also rule that a state law

violates the U.S. ConstitutionThis ruling stands until the SCOTUS rules

otherwise.

Impact of Case Law

Stare Decisis aka “Case Law”Prior decisions of appellate courts are

considered binding on lower courts until: Reversed Vacated Overruled

Review of Evidentiary Matters

Issues regarding evidence must be raised in trial court in order to preserve them for appeal

What is a case “on all fours?”

If an appellate court finds that a trial judge made an error, the “Harmless Error Rule”

Under the following conditions:An error will not cause the case to be

reversed on appeal unless the appellate court believes the error was likely to affect the outcome of the case.

How is Legal Research Done?

Law Library CD’s Internet

findlaw.comusscplus.comcourtinfo.ca.gov

Review Questions

Define the term evidence.  Give Examples Explain the term burden of proof.  What is the role of the U.S. Supreme Court in

determining the rules of evidence for Federal courts and for state courts?

Define what is meant by beyond a reasonable doubt.

Review Questions

In a criminal trial, who is the trier of the law, who is the trier of the facts, and what are their respective roles?

List three sources of law that governs evidence. explain how to find the opinion of the U.S.

supreme court in Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 20 L.Ed. 2d 889, 88 S.Ct. 1868 (1968).

Explain the Harmless Error rule.