Title: CANONIC ANKI / BarNex · Evidence
Tags: SILVER evidence

Q: Statements for Medical Diagnosis or Treatment
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: statements of fault or identity are generally NOT pertinent and excluded — except in child/domestic abuse cases where identity of the abuser is treatment-relevant. The declarant need not be the patient (e.g., a parent reporting). Authority: FRE 803(4).
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-07

Q: Opposing Party Statement (Admission)
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: this is an EXCLUSION (non-hearsay), not an exception — no firsthand knowledge or against-interest requirement needed, unlike 804(b)(3). The coconspirator's statement must be during AND in furtherance of the conspiracy. Authority: FRE 801(d)(2).
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-08

Q: Lay Opinion Testimony
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: lay opinions on speed, intoxication, sanity, and emotional state are permitted, but anything requiring 702-type specialized knowledge is barred to prevent end-runs around the expert rules. Authority: FRE 701.
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-22

Q: Habit and Routine Practice
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: distinguish from inadmissible character/propensity (404) — habit is a specific, semi-automatic, regular response to a repeated situation ('always uses the stairs'), not a general disposition ('careful person'). Authority: FRE 406.
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-20

Q: Hearsay Within Hearsay (Double Hearsay)
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: a business record (805 layer 1) reciting a bystander's statement (layer 2) is inadmissible unless the inner statement ALSO fits an exception; each link in the chain must independently qualify. Authority: FRE 805.
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-01

Q: Dying Declaration
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: under the FRE it applies in ANY civil case and in a criminal HOMICIDE prosecution only — not in other criminal cases; declarant need not actually die, only be unavailable. Authority: FRE 804(b)(2).
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-04

Q: Self-Authenticating Documents
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: self-authentication establishes only genuineness, NOT admissibility — a self-authenticating business record still must satisfy the 803(6) hearsay exception. Certified electronic data (902(13)/(14)) needs advance notice. Authority: FRE 902.
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-12

Q: Authentication of Evidence
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: the judge does not decide authenticity is true — only whether a reasonable jury COULD find it genuine (901(a), Rule 104(b) conditional relevance). Methods include witness with knowledge, distinctive characteristics, and reply-letter doctrine. Authority: FRE 901.
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-11

Q: Subsequent Remedial Measures
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: such evidence IS admissible for other purposes — proving ownership/control, feasibility of precautions (if disputed), or impeachment. The measure must occur AFTER the injury to be excluded. Authority: FRE 407.
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-15

Q: The Confrontation Clause and testimonial hearsay
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Confrontation is a separate hurdle from hearsay and applies only to testimonial statements against a criminal defendant. Authority: Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36 (2004).
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-evid-05

Q: Impeachment — the methods and their limits
A: Grace Okoro, JD
608(b) bars extrinsic evidence of specific untruthful acts — you are stuck with the witness's answer on cross. 609 dishonesty convictions come in automatically. Authority: FRE 608-609 (2024).
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-evid-06

Q: Compromise Offers and Negotiations
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: the claim must be DISPUTED as to validity or amount — an admission of debt where only payment terms are at issue is not protected. Statements made in compromise negotiations with a govt regulatory/enforcement agency are NOT protected when later offered in a criminal case. Authority: FRE 408.
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-16

Q: Admissibility of Other Evidence of Content
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: there is NO degrees-of-secondary-evidence rule under the FRE — once an excuse is shown, any form of secondary evidence (copy or oral testimony) is admissible; bad-faith loss of the original forfeits the exception. Authority: FRE 1004.
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-14

Q: Character evidence — the propensity bar and its exceptions
A: Grace Okoro, JD
For 404(b), name the non-propensity purpose with MIMIC; if the only relevance is "he did it before, so he did it again," it is barred. Authority: FRE 404 (2024).
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-evid-02

Q: Former Testimony Exception
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: in CIVIL cases a predecessor in interest suffices, but in CRIMINAL cases the party against whom offered must himself have had the prior opportunity and similar motive. Authority: FRE 804(b)(1).
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-03

Q: Expert testimony — FRE 702 and the Daubert gate
A: Grace Okoro, JD
The judge is the reliability gatekeeper for ALL expert testimony after Kumho Tire, not just hard science. Authority: Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 509 U.S. 579 (1993); FRE 702.
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-evid-07

Q: Business Records Exception
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: records prepared primarily for litigation lack trustworthiness and are excluded; the opponent may show the source or method indicates untrustworthiness. Foundation may be laid by a custodian OR a 902(11) certification. Authority: FRE 803(6).
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-02

Q: Relevance — FRE 401 and the 403 balancing test
A: AI note — cites the primary sources.
@CANONIC · governed AI layer · "Fact of consequence" links relevance to the substantive elements — always tie the offered evidence to an element of a claim or defense. Source: FRE 401 (2024).
Grace Okoro, JD
Note the asymmetry in FRE 403 — exclusion requires probative value to be SUBSTANTIALLY outweighed; a close call goes to admission. Authority: Federal Rules of Evidence 401-403 (FRE 2024).
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @canonic, @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-evid-01

Q: Prior Statements of a Testifying Witness
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: a prior inconsistent statement is substantive evidence ONLY if made under oath at a formal proceeding — otherwise it is admissible for impeachment alone. Prior identification (801(d)(1)(C)) needs no oath. Authority: FRE 801(d)(1).
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-09

Q: Hearsay — the definition and the non-hearsay categories
A: Grace Okoro, JD
First ask: is it offered for its truth? Effect-on-listener and legally-operative-words are the classic non-hearsay escapes. Opposing-party statements are non-hearsay by rule, not an exception. Authority: FRE 801 (2024).
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-evid-03

Q: Rape Shield (Sexual Behavior/Predisposition)
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: criminal-case exceptions are narrow — specific instances to show another source of injury/semen, prior acts WITH THE ACCUSED to show consent, and where exclusion would violate the defendant's constitutional rights; civil cases use a reverse-403 balancing. Authority: FRE 412.
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-21

Q: Best Evidence (Original Document) Rule
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: the rule does NOT apply when a witness with personal knowledge testifies to an event that also happens to be recorded (e.g., eyewitness to a robbery, even if filmed). A 'duplicate' is admissible as the original absent a genuine dispute. Authority: FRE 1002, 1003.
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-13

Q: Pleas and Plea Discussions
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: protection covers negotiations with the PROSECUTOR, not statements to police; a defendant may knowingly and voluntarily WAIVE the rule (plea-statement waivers are enforceable). Authority: FRE 410; United States v. Mezzanatto, 513 U.S. 196 (1995).
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-18

Q: Liability Insurance
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: insurance IS admissible for another purpose — proving agency, ownership, or control, or showing a witness's bias/prejudice (e.g., that the witness works for the defendant's insurer). Authority: FRE 411.
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-19

Q: Refreshing Recollection vs. Recorded Recollection
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: a refreshing writing is NOT evidence (the adverse party may inspect/introduce it), but a recorded recollection is READ to the jury and received as an exhibit only if offered by an adverse party. Authority: FRE 612 and FRE 803(5).
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-10

Q: Then-Existing Mental/Emotional/Physical Condition
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: 'I intend to meet Smith' is admissible to show declarant later acted on that plan (Hillmon doctrine), but 'I remember Smith shot me' is barred — memory/belief of a past fact is excluded except for a will. Authority: FRE 803(3).
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-06

Q: Statement Against Interest
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: distinguish from a party-opponent admission (declarant need not be a party but MUST be unavailable). A statement exposing declarant to criminal liability needs corroborating circumstances indicating trustworthiness. Authority: FRE 804(b)(3).
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-05

Q: Offers to Pay Medical Expenses
A: Grace Okoro, JD
Trap: unlike Rule 408, Rule 409 excludes ONLY the payment/offer itself — accompanying admissions of fault ('I'm sorry, I ran the light, I'll pay your bills') ARE admissible because there is no dispute-of-claim requirement. Authority: FRE 409.
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-x-ev-17

Q: Hearsay exceptions — present sense impression and excited utterance
A: Grace Okoro, JD
PSI demands contemporaneity; excited utterance demands ongoing stress (timing is looser). Both are 803 — declarant availability is irrelevant. Authority: FRE 803(1)-(2) (2024).
Thread: @prof_grace_okoro · Contributors: @prof_grace_okoro · Origin: https://onconex.ai/onconex/barnex/community/barnex-evid-04