What is Relevant Evidence?

What is Relevant Evidence?

• A. Evidence that tends to make an important fact more or less probable than the fact would be without the evidence
• B. Evidence that is admissible regardless of probative value
• C. Evidence that is irrelevant to the case
• D. Evidence that is privileged.

Answer: (A)

Relevant evidence is evidence that has any tendency to make a material fact more or less probable in the case than it would be without the evidence. In other words, it must have probative value with respect to a fact that matters to the outcome. This is the basic gatekeeper concept for admissibility: if evidence doesn’t affect the likelihood of a key fact, it doesn’t help the case and isn’t admitted (subject to exceptions). The option describing evidence that is admissible regardless of probative value is not correct because probative value is part of what makes evidence relevant. The option describing evidence irrelevant to the case is not correct because irrelevant evidence has no bearing on the facts at issue. The option describing privileged evidence is not correct because privileged communications are protected and typically excluded from use regardless of their content. In short, relevant evidence is evidence that helps prove or disprove a fact that matters in the case.

Relevant evidence is evidence that has any tendency to make a material fact more or less probable in the case than it would be without the evidence. In other words, it must have probative value with respect to a fact that matters to the outcome. This is the basic gatekeeper concept for admissibility: if evidence doesn’t affect the likelihood of a key fact, it doesn’t help the case and isn’t admitted (subject to exceptions).

The option describing evidence that is admissible regardless of probative value is not correct because probative value is part of what makes evidence relevant. The option describing evidence irrelevant to the case is not correct because irrelevant evidence has no bearing on the facts at issue. The option describing privileged evidence is not correct because privileged communications are protected and typically excluded from use regardless of their content. In short, relevant evidence is evidence that helps prove or disprove a fact that matters in the case.