Criminal Justice

Running head: Evidence and Trial

Trial and Evidence

Sharon D. Caudle

Everest University

Abstract

Each adversary in a criminal case seeks to present the facts that are most advantageous to its position. The parties often battle over what is relevant, reliable, and competent evidence. For this assignment, provide definitions for these three qualities of evidence. Additionally, find a criminal court case that contains an example of relevant, reliable or competent evidence.  You can use findlaw.com or other search engines to locate a useful case.  What are the basic facts of the case?  What is the evidence that is relevant, reliable or competent?  Explain your answers using the court’s opinion or your own analysis. This individual work to be completed is an in-depth essay of 1-2 pages, free of spelling and grammar errors.

Title of Paper

As stated by (Garner and Anderson) “criminal and civil trials would be a lot longer if there were no controls on testimony and the information that is allowed. So to minimize the confusion and to make the trials more manageable, all evidence must be relevant, material, and competent. Competent Evidence means-any evidence that is relevant and reliable and not otherwise excludable. (Gardner and Anderson) Evidence that is relevant means that if it has a tendency to make a material fact more or less probable. And reliable evidence means evidence that possesses a sufficient degree of likelihood that it is true and accurate. (Gardner and Anderson)

The judge in a court proceedings is needed to ensure that each party to a court case have a fair trial, the judge strives to make sure that any and all evidence that is presented in a court of law or administrative proceeding is reliable, material, and relevant to the cases at hand. Sometimes testimonies, documents, and exhibits that do not meet some of the criteria that are expected in court can be declared inadmissible in court. Inadmissible evidence is heard orally or tangible...