Category Archives: Evidence

The Right To Present A Defense And The Boundaries Of Collateral Evidence

People v. Spencer The erroneous exclusion of relevant evidence will not necessarily lead to a conviction being overturned on appeal. The People v. Spencer 2101 N Y Slip Op 08567 Decided: December 13 2012 New York Court of Appeals Issue: … Continue reading

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The Constitutional Right To Present A Complete Defense – The Exception: Collateral Matters

The People & c., Respondent v. Andrew Spencer, Appellant 20 NY3d 955 Decided:   December 13, 2012 Issue: The defendant sought to interpose a defense, claiming that the complainant falsely implicated the defendant to protect the third party in this case … Continue reading

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Eliminating Jurors For Cause And Limiting Instructions To The Jury On Hearsay

People v. Harris  2012 NY Slip Op 06990 Decided by The New York Court of Appeals on October 18, 2012.  Issues: 1)    Whether a prospective juror should have been excluded for cause when she stated that she had an opinion … Continue reading

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Eyewitness Identification Expert: When Is Expert Testimony Admissible

People v. Santiago 2011 NY Slip Op 07303 Decided New York Court of Appeals October 20, 2011 See also The Scope of Expert Witness Testimony Issue: whether two additional eyewitness identifications sufficiently corroborated the victim’s identification of the defendant, so … Continue reading

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The Molineux Rule And The Scope Of Expert Witness Testimony

People v. Rivers 2011 NY Slip Op 08455  Decided November 22, 2011 New York Court of Appeals  See also Eyewitness Identification Expert: When Is Expert Testimony Admissible Issue(s): 1) Whether repeated violations of the trial court’s Molineux ruling was so prejudicial … Continue reading

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