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

The standard of review on a trial court’s decision to admit or exclude evidence in Washington is the abuse of discretion standard. This means that when an appellate court reviews a lower court’s decision on admitting or excluding evidence, the higher court will only overturn the lower court’s ruling if the lower court abused its discretion in its decision. An abuse of discretion occurs when a decision is based on an incorrect legal standard, on clear misapprehension of the law, or when the lower court exercises its discretion in an arbitrary, capricious, or irrational manner. Under this standard, the appellate court will not substitute its own judgment for that of the lower court; rather, the higher court will decide whether the lower court’s decision was fair and reasonable. Appellate courts will also typically accept the lower court’s findings of fact, as long as they are supported by the evidence. In Washington, the admission or exclusion of evidence is important because it affects the outcome of a case. Therefore, appellate courts must closely review the lower court’s decisions to ensure fairness and accuracy. If the higher court finds that the lower court abused its discretion, then it may reverse the lower court’s decision and remand the case back to the lower court.

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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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