Evidence

This course examines the law and theory of evidence, focusing on the Federal Rules of Evidence and related constitutional and common-law doctrines. Topics include relevance, prejudice, hearsay, character evidence, impeachment, the Confrontation Clause, lay opinions and expert testimony, authentication, and privileges. This is not a trial advocacy or clinical course. However, I view it as a priority to give you a sense of how the Rules actually work in court. The required textbook is Sklansky/Roth, Evidence: Cases, Commentary, and Problems (5 ed.). You will have a 3.5 hour, in-class final exam that is primarily multiple choice. You will also have a mandatory but ungraded mid-semester paper/memorandum assignment. You can work on the memo in small groups if you like, and you will have one week to complete the assignment and turn it in to me.