How is relevance defined under FRE 401?

How is relevance defined under FRE 401?

• A. Evidence must prove the material fact beyond a reasonable doubt.
• B. Evidence must have any tendency to make a material fact more or less probable than it would be without the evidence.
• C. Evidence must be admissible under Rule 403.
• D. Evidence must be probative only if it is direct evidence.

Answer: (B)

Relevance under FRE 401 means that evidence must have any tendency to make a material fact more or less probable than it would be without the evidence. A material fact is something that matters to the case—the kind of fact the jury needs to decide. The standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt is about guilt, not whether evidence is relevant. Rule 403 deals with balancing probative value against prejudice after relevance is established, but relevance itself is the threshold requirement. Evidence can be probative even if it is indirect or circumstantial, as long as it tends to prove a material fact.

Relevance under FRE 401 means that evidence must have any tendency to make a material fact more or less probable than it would be without the evidence. A material fact is something that matters to the case—the kind of fact the jury needs to decide. The standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt is about guilt, not whether evidence is relevant. Rule 403 deals with balancing probative value against prejudice after relevance is established, but relevance itself is the threshold requirement. Evidence can be probative even if it is indirect or circumstantial, as long as it tends to prove a material fact.