One of the problems with forensic science is that something can seem scientifically sound and still be totally subjective. In fact, recent research has even raised questions about the legitimacy of blood splatter analysis and the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, which is one of the standard field sobriety tests used to establish whether someone has […]
What Makes Evidence Inadmissible in Court?
Criminal cases are based on evidence and the evidence presented by the prosecution must be enough to outweigh that presented by a defendant’s attorney in order to prove that person’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. You probably know that not everything can be admitted as evidence and when something cannot be used it is called […]
What is Hearsay? Oceanside Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you’ve watched pretty much any show or movie with a courtroom scene, then you’ve probably seen a lawyer object to something in a trial based on the fact that it’s hearsay. But what is hearsay, exactly, and why can’t it be used in court? Oceanside criminal defense lawyer Peter M. Liss explains. What is Hearsay? […]
Are Lie Detector Tests Admissible in Court in California? Polygraph Law
Everyone has heard of lie detectors being used by police or prosecutors, but are lie detector tests even admissible in court in California? As it turns out, the California polygraph law about evidence admissibility makes it very unlikely that a lie detector will be admitted in court, but police still ask defendants to take them […]
Can Forced Confessions from the Lasso of Truth be Used in Court?
Wonder Woman may be strong and tough, but her most legendary power is her Lasso of Truth. Now while we aren’t about to step in and stop her from using her Lasso to save the world, we don’t like the idea of people being tried and convicted of crimes based on what they said while […]
Can a Diary be Used as Evidence? Are Diaries Admissible in Court?
Diaries and journals can be written for all number of reasons, but one thing most of these writers have in common is the expectation that their private thoughts and observations will be kept private. Unfortunately, the US legal system doesn’t hold diaries as a protected source of speech that can’t be used against their writer […]
