“I’ll Give It the Appropriate Weight” Is Not a Rule of Evidence

Few courtroom phrases are more soothing—or more dangerous—than this response to a valid hearsay objection: “I’ll admit it, but I’ll give it the appropriate weight.” The phrase sounds disciplined. It…

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“Not Offered for the Truth of the Matter Asserted”: Meaning, Limits, and Misuse

In court, neither a party nor one of that party’s witnesses can simply claim to repeat what someone else said and expect the judge to treat it as proof. As…

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