NCJ Number
109250
Journal
Polygraph Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (1987) Pages: 75-78
Date Published
1987
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article reviews Federal rulings pertinent to the admissibility of polygraph evidence by the Supreme Court, circuit courts of appeals, the U.S. military courts of appeal, and the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board.
Abstract
The U.S. Supreme Court has not yet ruled on any case of polygraph admissibility. Although many of the Federal circuit courts of appeals have spoken of the wide discretion of the trial judge in admitting polygraph evidence, no appellate court has ruled that polygraph evidence is always admissible. Moreover, admissibility of polygraph evidence is not common in Federal courts, since Federal judges most often use their discretion to exclude such evidence. The U.S. military courts of appeal do not permit admission of polygraph evidence, stipulated or not. The U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board has only had two cases relating to the propriety of using the polygraph in Federal personnel actions and consideration of polygraph results in making their own determinations. In Meir v. Department of the Interior, the board ruled that a hearing officer was correct in not excluding polygraph evidence.