What are the rules of evidence in criminal defense law?

In criminal defense law, there are specific rules of evidence that must be followed. These rules are designed to ensure fairness in the trial process and protect the rights of defendants. First, relevant evidence is only allowed to be presented during a trial. Relevant evidence must be related to the case and support the prosecution’s or defense’s case. All information presented must also be reliable or credible. Second, evidence must be authenticated or verified in order to be accepted. This means the person introducing the evidence must prove that it is what they say it is. For example, the defense must authenticate a piece of physical evidence before it can be admitted. Third, hearsay evidence is not allowed. Hearsay is testimony of a witness based on someone else’s statement, rather than on their own observation. Evidence must be based on personal observation; otherwise, it is considered hearsay and not admissible in court. Finally, evidence that is illegally obtained cannot be used during a criminal trial. This is known as the exclusionary rule, which states that any evidence that is obtained illegally must be excluded from the trial. These are the basic rules of evidence in criminal defense law. Whenever evidence is introduced during a trial, it must comply with these rules in order to be admitted. Following these rules is important to guarantee a fair trial and the rights of all involved.

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