Minnesota Rules of Evidence

general rule of each rule in the MN rules of evidence!

101

Scope: These rules apply to all Minnesota courts.

Article 1

General Provisions

Article 2

Judicial Notice (just one thing lol)

Article 3

Presumptions in Civil Actions

Article 4

Relevancy of Evidence

Article 5

Privileges

Article 6

Witnesses

Article 7

Opinions and Expert Testimony

Article 8

Hearsay

Article 9

Authentication

Article 10

Contents of Evidence

102

Purpose: The goal is fairness, efficiency, and truth-seeking.

103

Rulings on Evidence: Explains how lawyers object to or preserve evidence issues for appeal.

104

Preliminary Questions: The judge decides whether evidence or witnesses are admissible.

105

Limited Admissibility: Evidence can be used for one purpose but not another (jury must be told).

106

Remainder of Writings or Recordings: If one side shows part of a document, the other side can require more of it to be shown for context.

201

Judicial Notice of Facts: Judges can accept certain obvious or easily verified facts (like calendar dates or geography) without requiring proof.

301

Presumptions in Civil Cases: If one fact is proven, another related fact is presumed true unless proven otherwise. (e.g., mailed letters are presumed delivered).

401

Definition of Relevance: Evidence must make something more or less likely to be true.

402

General Admissibility: Only relevant evidence is allowed.

403

Excluding Evidence: Even relevant evidence can be excluded if it’s too prejudicial or confusing.

404

Character Evidence: You generally can’t use a person’s character to show they acted that way on a specific occasion.

405

Methods of Proving Character: If character is allowed, it can be shown through reputation or opinion, not random examples.

406

Habit Evidence: Evidence of someone’s regular habit or routine can be used to show they acted that way again.

407

Subsequent Remedial Measures: Fixing a problem after an accident can’t be used to prove guilt or fault.

408

Compromise Offers: Settlement talks can’t be used as evidence of fault.

409

Payment of Medical Expenses: Offering to pay someone’s medical bills can’t be used to prove liability.

410

Pleas and Plea Discussions: Withdrawn guilty pleas or plea negotiations can’t be used as evidence.

411

Insurance: The fact that someone has or doesn’t have insurance can’t be used to prove negligence.

412

Sex-Offense Cases; Victim’s Sexual Behavior: Limits using a victim’s sexual history as evidence (“rape shield” rule).

501

601

Competency: Anyone competent can testify unless otherwise stated.

602

Personal Knowledge: Witnesses can only testify about what they personally saw, heard, or experienced.

603

Oath or Affirmation: Witnesses must promise to tell the truth.

604

Interpreters: Interpreters must be qualified and take an oath to translate accurately.

605

Judge as Witness: The judge can’t testify in the same trial.

606

Juror as Witness: Jurors can’t testify about what happened in jury deliberations.

607

Who May Impeach: Any party can challenge (impeach) a witness’s credibility.

608

Character for Truthfulness: A witness’s honesty can be attacked or supported by reputation or opinion evidence.

609

Impeachment by Criminal Conviction: Some past crimes can be used to question a witness’s credibility.

610

Religious Beliefs: Can’t use someone’s religion to attack or support credibility.

611

Mode and Order of Examining Witnesses: Judges control how questioning happens (direct, cross, redirect).

612

Writing Used to Refresh Memory: A witness can look at notes to refresh their memory.

613

Prior Statements of Witnesses: Prior inconsistent statements can be used to challenge a witness.

614

Court’s Calling or Questioning Witnesses: The judge can call or question witnesses.

615

Excluding Witnesses: Witnesses can be kept out of the courtroom so they don’t hear others’ testimony.

701

Opinion by Lay Witnesses: Regular witnesses can give opinions only about what they directly observed.

702

Expert Testimony: Experts can give opinions if they’re qualified and their methods are reliable.

703

Bases of Expert Opinion: Experts can base opinions on facts or data they personally observed or were told.

704

Ultimate Issue: Experts can give opinions even if they touch the “ultimate issue” (e.g., cause of death).

705

Disclosing Facts or Data: Experts can give opinions without first listing all supporting facts (but they can be asked about them).

706

Court-Appointed Experts: The court may appoint its own expert witness.

801

Definitions: Explains what counts as “hearsay” (out-of-court statements offered for their truth).

802

Hearsay Rule: Hearsay isn’t allowed unless there’s an exception.

803

Exceptions (Even if Declarant Available): Lists statements that are reliable enough to allow, such as:

• Present sense impressions

• Excited utterances

• Medical statements

• Business records

• Public records

804

Exceptions (Declarant Unavailable): When the speaker can’t testify — like former testimony, dying declarations, or statements against interest.

805

Hearsay Within Hearsay: Double hearsay is okay only if each part fits an exception.

806

Attacking/Supporting Declarant’s Credibility: You can question the credibility of the out-of-court speaker.

807

• Residual Exception: Allows other reliable hearsay not covered elsewhere, if it’s necessary and trustworthy.

901

Requirement: You must prove a document or object is what you claim it is.

902

Self-Authenticating: Some documents (like notarized or government records) prove themselves.

903

Subscribing Witness’s Testimony: You don’t always need the person who signed or witnessed a document to testify about it.

1001

Definitions: Defines what counts as writings, recordings, and photographs.

1002

Best Evidence Rule: To prove what a document says, you should use the original, not a copy.

1003

Admissibility of Duplicates: Copies are fine unless there’s a genuine question about authenticity.

1004

When Originals Aren’t Required: If the original is lost or unavailable for a valid reason, copies or summaries may be used.

1005

Public Records: Copies of public records can be used if certified.

1006

Summaries: You can show summaries of long documents if originals are available for review.

1007

Testimony or Admission of a Party: A person’s own statement can prove the content of a writing.

1008

Functions of Court and Jury: The judge decides preliminary issues; the jury decides factual ones.