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Law 101: Legal Guide for the Forensic Expert

Admissibility

Admissibility refers to the determination of whether evidence will be allowed at trial.

Although any information that tends to prove or disprove an issue in a case is referred to as evidence, not all evidence is admissible. Challenges to evidence, though the evidence may be true and relevant to the issue at hand, can be raised before trial begins. These challenges may result in evidence being ruled as inadmissible or excluded from trial.

Challenges to exclude or limit the admissibility of evidence are known as evidentiary challenges. Evidentiary challenges raised before the trial begins are called pretrial motions.

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