Publisher's Synopsis
Evidence: A Structured Approach is designed to facilitate teaching and learning. Its unique organization complements the way most professors teach evidence law, with each section focused on one Federal Rule of Evidence. Questions are presented as a series of short, accessible hypotheticals and build upon one another to facilitate thorough student understanding of the rule at hand. Students know in advance what questions will be the focus of classroom discussion, providing a strong incentive to come to class prepared. The authors emphasize the written rules, rather than case law, as the primary source of evidence law today. Salient cases are skillfully edited to provide solid legal grounding in the topic, and author-written explanatory material and notes help bring the rules of evidence to life.
The Third Edition welcomes new co-author Gary Williams, an expert in the rules of evidence. New Supreme Court cases, with questions for classroom discussion, and new FRE amendments are also included in this edition. The impact of new technology on evidence law issues is explored through cases and problems, and the Teacher’s Manual has been updated to reflect new and expanded material.
Features:
- The structured approach complements the way that most professors teach evidence law:
- One Federal Rule of Evidence introduces each section, followed by text—including numerous examplesexplaining the background, rationale, and details of the rule.
- Questions for classroom discussion are presented as a series of short hypotheticals—each illustrating a single aspect of the rule and building on previous questions until the rule is fully explored – to facilitate learning and improve student preparation for class.
- Focus is on written rules, rather than cases, as the primary source of evidence law today.
- Skillfully edited versions of cases, including seminal cases that every literate lawyer should know.
- Includes hypothetical transcript exercises, charts, and diagrams .
- Hearsay chapter includes chains of inference (Statement > Inference> Conclusion) to illustrate hearsay and nonhearsay uses of statements.
- Streamlined, manageable length is appealing to professors and students.
- The Teacher’s Manual provides an analysis of each of the Questions for Classroom Discussion so it can function as the core of the professor’s lecture notes. Also included are capsule descriptions of each case; additional questions, readings, and citations to authorities; and suggested syllabi.
- Students may download the questions from the authors’ website for a head start on class notes. Also included on the website are additional questions and materials for students studying California law; password-protected questions, answers, and materials for professors ; and late-breaking evidence cases and FRE amendments.
Thoroughly updated, the revised Third Edition presents:
- New co-author Gary Williams, who brings his considerable expertise to this edition.
- New FRE amendments
- New U.S. Supreme Court cases regarding the Confrontation Clause, with accompanying questions for classroom discussion.
- Other new cases and problems regarding impact of new technologies on certain evidence law issues, including new cases on applicability of confidential communication privileges to emails sent by employees on their work computers.
- Updated Teacher's Manual.
