New Interpretation of American Evidence Law: Relevant Evidence and Its Exclusion Rules

Author: Gao Zhongzhi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: Evidence law is a crucial component of the American legal system. It determines how courts fulfill a vital function of the judicial system: uncovering the truth of what actually happened when there is a dispute over the facts of a case. In many cases tried by juries, judges use evidence rules to decide what evidence can be presented in court. At the same time, in order to serve their clients effectively, attorneys must be very familiar with evidence law rules. Common law evidence rules have evolved over several centuries, primarily through court decisions. These evidence rules reflect judges' intuitive understanding of how people behave, what evidence can be trusted, and when and how evidence should be fairly used. Evidence law has no relation to ideology or economic systems; rather, it concerns how courts uncover the truth and, at the same time, ensure fairness is achieved.