What are the rules of evidence in criminal defense law?

In criminal defense law in California, rules of evidence govern the admissibility of evidence in court cases. Generally, evidence must be relevant to the case, have a logical connection to the facts of the case, and must not be unduly prejudicial or inflammatory. The Federal Rules of Evidence and the California Evidence Code both contain rules of evidence that must be followed in criminal defense law. These rules include hearsay, which restricts the admission of out-of-court statements as evidence in court; best evidence, which is the preference for original documents over copies; authentication, which requires proof to support that a document is what it purports to be; relevancy, which limits evidence to matters relevant to the case; and the exclusionary rule, which prohibits the admission of evidence that is gathered illegally. Additionally, there are certain rules of evidence in criminal defense law that are specific to California. These include the rules of impeachment, which allow the cross examination of a witness to test the credibility of their testimony; the right to confront witnesses, which allows the accused to confront and cross examine witnesses who testify against them; the requirement of chain of custody, which requires that the chain of custody of evidence be established in order to prove that it is the same piece of evidence that is being presented in court; and the self-incrimination rule, which protects a defendant’s right to not testify against themselves. These rules of evidence in criminal defense law set out the acceptable standards for the admission of evidence in court cases, and are intended to ensure a fair trial for all parties involved.

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What are the rules of evidence in criminal defense law?

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