A constant frustration – how to impeach (and typically with the book is sitting there on counsel table). Complaining Witness: Blah, blah, blah. Defense counsel: Now Ms. Complaining Witness you received an Article 15 . . . . (“Objection,” – “Sustained.” [DC looks at judge with a ‘what did I…
Federal Evidence Review notes the following: In conspiracy to distribute controlled substances prosecution, physician-defendant could not assert that the medical records of his patients were subject to a doctor-patient privilege because the federal courts do not recognize this privilege under FRE 501, in United States v. Bek, 493 F.3d 790…
Prof. Colin Miller posts: Somewhat similar to its federal counterpart, Indiana Rule of Evidence 410 provides in relevant part that Evidence of a plea of guilty or admission of the charge which was later withdrawn, or a plea of nolo contendere, or of an offer so to plead to the…
Thanks to Professor Colin Miller for this piece. In Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, the Supreme Court recently found that certificates of state laboratory analysts are "testimonial" and thus covered by the Confrontation Clause. Thus, if the forensic analysts (or similar experts) who prepared such certificates (or similar documents) do not testify…
Professor Colin Miller has posted an excellent piece about the current status of expert testimony about the inaccuracies of eyewitness identification. I have done several posts on this blog (here, here, here, here, here, and here) about the inaccuracy of regular and cross-racial eyewitness identifications and whether expert testimony about…
Thanks to Federal Evidence Review for a good summary of cases and issues involving 404(b) issues in federal courts.
Here is a case from federalevidence.com: Supervisor expert testified about his role in the peer review process; passing reference to the testing chemist’s conclusion did not violate the Confrontation Clause; circuit also distinguishes Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, 557 U.S. __, 129 S.Ct. 2527 (2009), in United States v. Turner," _ F.3d…
Records, reports, statements, or data compilations, in any form, of public offices or agencies, setting forth…matters observed pursuant to duty imposed by law as to which matters there was a duty to report, excluding, however, in criminal cases matters observed by police officers and other law enforcement personnel. In other…
Every so often the comes up of impeachment by prior conviction under Mil. R. Evid. 609. The reminder is that: The fact of a pending appeal does not defeat admission, but it may be brought up and discussed. Mil. R. Evid. 609(e). A summary court-martial may not be used to…
Prof. Collin Miller has this item on his blog which is an excellent reminder about objections – an issue for the defense much more than prosecution. You’ve seen it a million times in legal movies and TV shows. A lawyer asks a witness a question, opposing counsel stands up and…