What is the Military Rules of Evidence (MRE)?

The Military Rules of Evidence (MRE) are the set of rules applied in the military court system to determine what evidence is admissible in a given court-martial. The MRE are derived from federal court evidence rules but have been adapted to better reflect the unique environment of a military court. In the state of New Hampshire, the MRE applies to operations of the United States Coast Guard, as well as civilian personnel of the various branches of the United States Armed Forces. The rules of evidence that a military court must adhere to generally establish the conditions under which evidence will be admitted into a case. These rules generally provide that evidence such as witness statements, documents, and physical objects must be relevant to the case at hand, and must be admissible under accepted standards of evidence. For instance, hearsay evidence is generally not admissible. The MRE also establish mechanisms such as the exclusionary rule and the burden of proof to protect the rights of military defendants. In addition, the MRE also provides for certain witnesses to testify remotely via video conference. This is an important feature for the military, as it allows military personnel to testify without having to travel to the court-martial location. This in turn can help ensure that trials remain inexpensive and fair for all involved. Overall, the Military Rules of Evidence are a set of rules that determine what evidence is admissible in a military court-martial, and are designed to ensure a fair justice system is maintained in the US Armed Forces.

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What is the Military Rules of Evidence (MRE)?

What is the Military Rules of Evidence (MRE)?

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