What is the Military Rules of Evidence (MRE) 315?

The Military Rules of Evidence (MRE) 315 is a set of legal regulations that outlines the rules of evidence in court-martial proceedings in California. Essentially, it regulates how evidence may be admissible in courts-martial. Rules of evidence are designed to ensure that courts have reliable and accurate information to rely on when making decisions. Under MRE 315, certain evidence is allowed during court-martial proceedings, including testimony by a witness, documents, and photographs. Additionally, in a court-martial proceeding, rules of evidence are important for the protection of a service member’s rights, as evidence could potentially be used to influence the outcome of the court-martial in an unfavorable manner. The rules of evidence are set forth in the Manual for Courts-Martial, which is the governing document of military justice in California. Under the Manual for Courts-Martial, MRE 315, the legal standard is that evidence shall be deemed admissible if it is relevant, reliable, and cannot be excluded or struck under the provisions of the Manual for Courts-Martial. As such, evidence must have a reasonable tendency to prove or disprove a material fact in the case in order to be considered admissible. Additionally, evidence must be of such probative value that it outweighs any potential prejudice or unfairness that may be created as a result of the evidence being admitted.

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