Relevance: General considerations and character evidence

Question 1

FRE 401 and 402

Answer 1

Relevant evidence, unless excluded, is admissible

Question 2

Relevance

Answer 2

makes any fact of consequence more or less probable than it would be w/o evidence

Question 3

Direct evidence

Answer 3

equal to the factual proposition for which it is offered (ex. eyewitness testimony)

Question 4

Circumstantial evidence

Answer 4

indirectly proves or suggests some fact in issue

Question 5

Exclusion of relevant evidence (FRE 403)

Answer 5

Evidence that is relevant and not excluded by a particular rule may nevertheless be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of:

-unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, misleading the jury, considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence

Question 6

Character evidence

Answer 6

Document or testimony offered to prove that a person acted in a particular way on a particular occasion based on that persons disposition or character

Question 7

Character evidence is generally prohibited when?

Answer 7

when it is offered to prove that a person acted in conformity w/ a particular character trait on a given occasion (ex. propensity)

Question 8

Methods of proving character

Answer 8

Can be proved through opinion or reputation but not specific bad acts