What is the standard of review on a trial court’s decision to admit or exclude evidence?

In New Hampshire, an appellate court reviewing a trial court’s decision to admit or exclude evidence applies an abuse of discretion standard. This means that the appellate court will look at the trial court’s ruling and determine whether the court made an unreasonable decision that was not supported by the law or facts. In other words, the appellate court must decide whether the trial court abused its discretion. The New Hampshire Supreme Court has held that when a trial court makes a decision to admit or exclude evidence, the decision can only be reversed if it was arbitrary, unreasonable, or unfair. For example, if a trial judge excludes evidence that is relevant to the case that can help a jury reach a fair outcome, then the appellate court may reverse the ruling after viewing it with a more critical eye. Additionally, appellate courts may reverse a trial court’s ruling if the ruling is fundamentally unfair to one of the parties. This means that the appellate court must determine whether the trial court’s ruling would have harmed the party’s ability to fairly present their case. If the ruling would have caused an unfair prejudice on a party, then the appellate court may reverse the ruling. Overall, the appellate court has a high standard of review when it comes to a trial court’s decision to admit or exclude evidence. The court will look at the ruling carefully and determine whether it was fair considering the facts and law involved. If it was determined that the trial court abused its discretion, then the appellate court may reverse the ruling.

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What is the standard of review on a trial court’s decision to admit or exclude evidence?

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