Study Aids: Evidence

WebCatalog subject search: Evidence Law United States

The following is a list of recommended study aids in the Law Library’s collection on evidence:

Best, Arthur, Evidence: Examples and Explanations (7th ed. 2009). Reserve, KF8935.Z9 B48 2009

There are chapters on relevancy, hearsay, examination and impeachment, expert testimony, privileges, authentication, the Original Writing Rule, presumptions, and judicial notice. Each discussion of the topic is followed by examples for the reader to work through along with explanations of the examples.

Fenner, G. Michael, The Hearsay Rule (2003). Reserve, KF8969 .F46 2003

This is a detailed study aid to the hearsay rule in which the author explains its various exclusions and exceptions.

Giannelli, Paul C., Understanding Evidence (2d ed. 2006). Reserve, KF8935 .G52 2006

This text is organized by the Federal Rules of Evidence. The topics are the procedural framework of the trial, relevancy, witnesses, real and demonstrative evidence, writings, hearsay, privileges, and substitutes for evidence. Each chapter concludes with a description of the key points discussed in the chapter.

Graham, Michael H., Federal Rules of Evidence in a Nutshell (7th ed. 2007). Reserve, KF8935.Z9 G7 2007

The Nutshell is organized numerically by Rule with the author’s commentary following the text of each Rule. Numerous illustrations of the Rules are given.

Mueller, Christopher B. and Laird C. Kirkpatrick, Evidence (3d ed. 2003). Reserve, KF8935 .M836 2003

This study aid is organized by the Federal Rules of Evidence. The authors give a comprehensive treatment of the Rules pertaining to preliminary matters, judicial notice, burdens, presumptions, relevancy, privileges, witnesses, opinions, expert testimony, scientific evidence, hearsay, foundational evidence, authentication, and the Best Evidence Doctrine.

Park, Roger C. et al., Evidence Law: A Student’s Guide to the Law of Evidence as Applied in American Trials (2d ed. 2004). Reserve, KF8935 .P368 2004

Promoted by the authors as the “lawyer’s treatise designed specifically for law students,” this text makes extensive use of examples and arguments as spoken by trial lawyers to give the law student reader an understanding of the law of evidence in action. Topics in this hornbook include presenting evidence at trial, procedures for offering and opposing evidence at trial, objections to the form of the question or answer, burdens and presumptions, relevancy and its limits, competency, the hearsay rule and its exceptions, evidentiary privileges, impeachment and rehabilitation of witnesses, opinion evidence, expert testimony, exhibits, and appellate review of rulings on objections.

Rothstein, Paul F. et al., Evidence in a Nutshell (5th ed. 2007). Reserve, KF8935.Z9 R6 2007

Among the various topics discussed are relevancy, privileges, witnesses, and hearsay. The order in which the topics are addressed follows the Federal Rules of Evidence.

Locating the text of the Rules:
The annotated Rules are available on Westlaw in the US-RULES database. The path on LexisNexis is Legal > Federal Legal - U.S. > USCS - Federal Rules Annotated.

The Federal Rules of Evidence along with the Advisory Committee Notes are published annually by Thomson/West in two softbound books entitled Federal Civil Judicial Procedure and Rules (KF8816 .A193 2009) and Federal Criminal Code and Rules (KF9606.99 .D567 2009). The current editions are located on Reserve while the older editions are shelved in the stacks.

Electronic Study Aid: CALI To view an annotated listing of the CALI lessons available for evidence, select “Evidence” under the heading “CALI Topics.”

[Click here for the PDF version of this guide.]

Updated October, 2009.