NCJ Number
119176
Journal
Criminal Justice Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (Summer 1989) Pages: 20-23,44-46
Date Published
1989
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The report, entitled "Federal Rules of Evidence: A Fresh Review and Evaluation," proposes changes in the Federal Rules of Evidence.
Abstract
More than 40 judges, lawyers, and scholars were involved in this four-year study, where experts on each particular rule acted as "reporters" to the committee on those areas. The report rewrites the rules on matters such as prior convictions to impeach criminal defendants, expert testimony, character evidence, shielding rape victims, presumptions, child witnesses in violence and sex abuse cases, jurors impugning their own verdicts, competency, judicial notice, judicial comment, and admissibility of pleas, plea discussions, and related statements. It also makes a series of less formal suggestions concerning general "in limine" procedures, the hearsay exception for government records, and the hearsay exception for statements of future intention to show conduct of others.