Indiana Judicial Center > Judicial Education > Education Library > Evidence Evidence

A Collection of Informative Materials for Judicial Officers

“Allow Me to Get that Door” – Judge as a Gatekeeper

Session Presentation
Session Presentation (Scenarios & Excerpts of Applicable Indiana Rules of Evidence)
10 pages | 265 kb

Materials submitted by William Hughes, Hamilton Superior Court #3. These materials review the rules of evidence applicable to the qualification of experts and the admission of expert testimony.

Crawford and Child Hearsay

Session Presentation

Materials prepared by Judge William Hughes, Hamilton Superior Court #3.  Presented at the 2010 Spring Judicial College Program, April 14, 2010.

Judges face the challenge of making evidentiary rulings every day.  These rulings have become more difficult in recent years by the case of Crawford v. Washington which changed the analysis to be used in the admission of testimonial hearsay in a criminal case.  These rulings can be particularly challenging in cases involving child hearsay.  Recent Indiana and US Supreme Court cases provide some guidance to judges in making these evidentiary rulings.  This interactive class reviewed the case law and explored the analysis to use in making these rulings.

Evidence in Action - A Practicum on the Rules of Evidence

Session Presentation
48 pages | 4.5 mb

Materials prepared by William Hughes, Hamilton Superior Court.  The trial seems to be progressing well, but suddenly the dreaded word “Objection” resounds in the courtroom.  What rule applies?  Was there a sufficient foundation?  Is the tendered evidence probative?  Is the evidence too prejudicial?  How will I rule?  In an interactive setting based on a civil case fact scenario, these and other questions will be addressed.  In a judge’s world, evidence is both an academic discipline and a necessary skill.  Join your colleagues in honing your evidence skills. 

Crawford, the Constitution and Child Hearsay -- Three C's of Evidence

Session Presentation
65 pages | 243 kb
Materials prepared by the Honorable William Hughes, Hamilton Superior Court #3. Judicial officers make evidentiary rulings every day, and these rulings can be particularly difficult in cases involving child hearsay. Evidentiary rulings have become more challenging in recent years by the case of Crawford v. Washington which changed the analysis to be used in the admission of testimonial hearsay in criminal cases. Recent Indiana and U.S. Supreme Court cases provide some guidance to judicial officers in making these evidentiary rulings. In this interactive seminar, Judge Hughes reviewed case law and explored with participants the analysis to be used in making rulings involving Crawford issues and child hearsay cases.

Advocacy & Evidence Through the Eyes of the Judge

Session Presentation
119 pages | 1.7 mb

Presentation by Sanford Brook, Judicial Arbiter Group, Inc., Denver, Colorado and former Chief Judge, Indiana Court of Appeals. Materials developed by Sanford Brook for the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Judicial Conference of Indiana.

Evidence Problem Areas: Relevance & Balancing, Character Evidence, and Opinion Testimony

Session Presentation
26 pages | 197 kb

These materials were presented at the Spring 2006 Judicial College. This presentation and supporting materials were prepared by Professor Penny J. White, University of Tennessee College of Law.

This program included an update on recent Indiana cases as well as a review of settled law in recurring evidence issues. Professor White's presentation examined the often difficult rules that apply to assessing relevance and balancing prejudice, determining the admissibility of character evidence, and differentiating between lay and expert opinion testimony. She also included a discussion of the special evidence issues that arise in cases involving sexual misconduct.

Additional Resources

Resource Format Pages Size
Review Of Evidence Rules Related To Opinion Testimony   20 67 kb
Session Presentation Outline   21 117 kb

Hearsay Rules: Can You Hear What They Say?

Session Presentation
68 pages | 233 kb

These materials were presented at the Spring 2006 Judicial College. Materials prepared by William J. Hughes, Hamilton Superior Court.

This interactive program examined hearsay under the Indiana Rules of Evidence. Special attention was given to the definition of hearsay, the exceptions to the hearsay rule, the steps in analyzing the admissibility of hearsay, and the special issues of admissibility of hearsay created by the Confrontation Clause after Crawford v. Washington.