Also known as: legal evidences · evidence
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
Evidence that meets the standards of admissibility established by rules of evidence and procedure for use in a judicial proceeding. Such evidence must be relevant, reliable, and not barred by exclusionary doctrines such as character prohibitions or the fruit of an unlawful search.
Liam Larson sold property to Legacy Motors under a contract containing a merger clause. After closing, Legacy Motors discovered an oral promise about zoning that was absent from the deed. The court refused to admit the prior statement because the merger doctrine and parol evidence rule rendered it unenforceable.
Lila Lin filed an answer denying that her client owed damages. Discovery later revealed no factual support for the denial. The court sanctioned the attorney under Rule 11 because the denial was not warranted on the evidence or a reasonable belief.
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Luis Lopez faced assault charges. The prosecution sought to introduce evidence of his prior aggressive acts to show he acted violently on the charged occasion. The court excluded the evidence because it was offered solely to prove conduct in accordance with a character trait.
Judge Luna Lang presided over a contract dispute between Lucas Lee and Linden Logistics. After trial she searched online for additional facts about the parties' dealings. She correctly limited her decision to the evidence presented and any judicially noticed facts.
Attorney Laura Lewis learned that a witness she called had given false testimony about a key document. She promptly disclosed the falsity to the tribunal and took remedial measures rather than allowing the false evidence to stand.
Lakeshore Industries and Landmark Realty executed a written lease. Landmark sought to introduce earlier emails showing an additional rent credit. The court admitted the emails solely to determine whether the writing was completely integrated.
The doctrine excludes evidence obtained by exploiting an initial constitutional violation. Suppression is required when the warrant or later search rests on information discovered during the unlawful act and no independent source or attenuation breaks the causal chain.
A judge may consider only evidence presented by the parties and facts that may properly be judicially noticed. Independent investigation of facts is prohibited.
A lawyer may refuse to offer evidence other than a criminal defendant's testimony that the lawyer reasonably believes is false. If material false evidence has already been offered, the lawyer must take reasonable remedial measures including disclosure to the tribunal.
…of the Constitution. A commission is not necessary to the appointment of an officer by the Executive. A commission is only evidence of an appointment. Delivery is not necessary to the validity of letters patent. The President cannot authorize a Secretary of State to omit the performance of those duties which are…