Evidence: The Objection Method

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Evidence: The Objection Method is a stimulating casebook that presents the study of evidence the context of a trial. This new Fourth Edition was necessitated by a major development in the law of evidence. The Evidence Rules Restyling Project changed the text of every single one of the Federal Rules of Evidence. The Restyled Rules are set forth in full in an Introduction to the book―in side-by-side form, old and new―together with committee notes. Particular Restyled Rules are also set forth individually where pertinent to the topic discussed in the book.

Co-author Daniel Capra serves as Reporter to the Judicial Advisory Committee on Evidence Rules and had front-line responsibility for the restyled rules. Another co-author, Stephen Saltzburg, served as a consultant on the Restyling project. Where possible, the drafters' perspective on the Restyling amendments has been emphasized. So for example, the Introduction contains an explanation of the Restyling project prepared by Professor Capra.

Of course, the principal cases in the book were decided before the Restyled Rules of Evidence went into effect. Where those cases quote the language of the rule, the authors indicate that the quotation is from the rule before it was restyled. Editorial comments concerning restyling are contained in brackets in the cases.

This new Fourth Edition continues the practice of the previous edition by including extensive excerpts from the Federal Rules of Evidence Manual, co-authored by Professors Saltzburg, Capra and Michael Martin.

This new edition also plays to the strengths of the first three editions. Most importantly, it provides transcript style problems in which lawyers present evidence and argue evidentiary points, and a trial judge is called on to rule. These problems have been updated and amplified in this edition to provide a real challenge for students seeking to master the rules of evidence as well as the art of objection and argument over evidentiary points in a real trial.

Dennis D. Prater is a Cornell Teaching Professor of Law Emeritus at the University of Kansas School of Law.

Daniel J. Capra is Reed Professor of Law at Fordham University School of Law.

Stephen Saltzburg is the Wallace and Beverley Woodbury University Professor of Law and Co-director of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Program at the George Washington University Law School.

Christine M. Arguello is United States District Court Judge, District of Colorado.