NCJ Number
130112
Date Published
1991
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This document presents U.S. Supreme Court amendments to Federal Rules of Evidence 404(b) and 1102.
Abstract
Rule 404(b) provides that evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may, however, state the rule or be admissible for other purposes such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identify, or absence of mistake or accident. The amendment provides that the foregoing exception to the rule is conditioned by the prosecution's providing, upon request by the accused, reasonable notice in advance of trial or during trial if the court excuses pretrial notice on good cause shown of the general nature of any such evidence it intends to introduce at trial. Rule 1102, which pertains to amendments to the Rules of Evidence, mandates that any amendments to the Federal Rules of Evidence may be made as provided in section 2072 (previously stated as section 2076) of title 28 of the U.S. Code. The latter amendment is technical and involves no substantive change.