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Rules designed to exclude evidence obtained in violation of a defendant's constitutional rights.

Evidence that is not directly about the fact at issue but is about the personal credibility of a witness.

A type of evidence that does not directly prove an element of the case but suggests a conclusion through a chain of logic.

A principle allowing one to introduce a writing (or recording or photograph) into evidence only if the original is produced or its absence validly explained.

A principle that forbids a witness from testifying to the motivations or intentions of another, unless the witness is giving an opinion based on observations as an expert.

This concept states that each piece of evidence must be sufficiently connected to the legal dispute to warrant its admission into the trial record.

A procedural rule that prevents the admission of other wrongs or acts to prove a person's character in order to show that they acted in conformity with that character on a particular occasion.

The burden of proof lies with the party who initiates an assertion or claim and typically must show their claim is valid.

This principle allows prior statements by a witness written or said under oath to be used for the truth of the matter asserted in court.

This is where witnesses can testify to only that which they have personally observed or experienced and not what they have heard from others.

A requirement that evidence must directly relate to and prove an element of the case or legal issue at hand without needing inferential leaps.

A rule that allows certain out-of-court statements made by a party-opponent to be admissible as evidence.

An exception to the hearsay rule that allows dying declarations to be admissible under certain circumstances.

A rule in criminal law that prohibits the admission of evidence of a victim's past sexual behavior.

An objection during trial indicating that the question being asked of a witness is leading and suggesting the answer to the witness.

A principle where physical evidence connected with a crime must be proven to be in an unbroken and continuous condition.

Refers to a general barrier against using evidence from one person's wrongdoing to suggest they committed a separate offense.

A statement not based on the personal knowledge of a witness, typically repeated information heard from someone else, that is usually not admissible as evidence.

The questioning of a witness by the party who did not call the witness to the stand.

A procedure that allows a party to reveal to the court what their witness will say if called to testify, to determine the admissibility of that testimony before it is presented to the jury.

The process by which the court establishes that an item of evidence is genuine and what it purports to be.

A notice or right requiring someone to appear in court and provide testament or document evidence, often in the form of a physical document.

The legal requirement that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt every element of the crime charged in the indictment or charge.

An element of an environment, such as lighting or weather, that can decrease a witness's ability to observe and accurately identify a perpetrator.

This rule allows a character witness to testify about a person's character, but restricts them to only testifying about their reputation or opinion, not specific past instances of conduct.

A doctrine that prohibits one party from re-litigating an issue of fact or law that has already been decided by a competent court in a previous case involving the same parties.

This governs the admissibility of records of a regularly conducted activity and allows such records to be admissible as an exception to hearsay.

This is the principle that the probative value of the evidence must outweigh any potential to unfairly prejudice, mislead, or confuse the jury.

A set of principles governing when a witness may testify regarding a statement made out of court that does fall within the definition of hearsay.