Understanding Federal and California Evidence

The California edition expands the latest edition of the well-established treatise Understanding Evidence to explore California's unique approach. Each chapter begins with the federal doctrine, followed by a section on how California approaches the topic. The Appendices include the California Evidence Code. The book is primarily intended as a reference for law school civil procedure students in California. However, its treatment of recent developments may make it useful to some practitioners as well.

This Understanding treatise presents the essential topics in evidence law cogently and concisely. While it was written primarily for students in Evidence and Trial Practice courses, the "Key Points" summary at the end of each chapter and the inclusion of the current Federal Rules of Evidence in an appendix make this treatise an excellent reference for busy attorneys. Understanding Evidence begins with an overview of Evidence law followed by an explanation of the roles of the judge and jury. The remaining chapters are organized under the following topics:

• Procedural Framework of Trial
• Relevancy
• Witnesses
• Real and Demonstrative Evidence
• Writings
• Hearsay
• Privileges
• Substitutes for Evidence

This treatise extensively discusses and cites the Federal Rules of Evidence. Cases, statutes, other rules, and secondary sources are also cited, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding evidence law.