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

In Texas, appellate courts typically use what is called the “abuse of discretion” standard when reviewing a trial court’s decision on whether to admit or exclude evidence. This means that the appellate court will review the trial court’s decision to see if it was reasonable and fair, based on the facts and evidence presented. If the trial court’s decision was justified, the appellate court will affirm it. However, if the trial court’s decision was arbitrary or irrational, the appellate court may overturn the decision and order that the evidence be admitted or excluded. The appellate court’s job is to look at the entire record before reaching a conclusion on whether the trial court abused its discretion or not. This means the appellate court will review the trial court’s reasons for its decision, as well as the evidence presented at trial, in order to determine if the decision was reasonable. The appellate court will also look at any applicable legal precedents, which may direct the court to admit or exclude specific types of evidence. In sum, the standard of review for a trial court’s decision to admit or exclude evidence is the “abuse of discretion” standard. This means that the appellate court will review the decision based on the facts and evidence presented, the legal precedent, and its own judgement to determine if the trial court acted reasonably. If the trial court abused its discretion, the appellate court may overturn the decision.

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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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