In the eight years since the Connecticut Code of Evidence was adopted,
the law of evidence has changed. Courts have decided many cases interpreting
the Code and have developed the common law of evidence. The legislature has
enacted a number of statutes affecting the law, and most recently, the Code
itself has been amended. For a complete and balanced picture of all the law
affecting the admission of evidence in Connecticut courts—from one of the most
knowledgeable experts on the topic—there’s only one place to turn:
Tait’s Handbook of Connecticut Evidence, Fourth Edition.
Written by Colin C. Tait, widely regarded as the top authority on
Connecticut Evidence Law, and the Hon. Eliot D. Prescott, a Superior Court
judge and experienced trial and appellate attorney, this comprehensive
treatise provides a complete restatement of the Connecticut Law of Evidence
, drawing from the Code, case law, statutes, and court rules of practice.
Known for its incisive analysis of the intricacies of the state’s evidence
rules and unparalleled weight of authority, Tait’s Handbook
was used as a basis for both the Code provisions and the Commentary, which
means there’s no one more qualified than Professor Tait to provide analysis
and practice strategies on vital issues like these:
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Relevancy—Examines logical relevance; fairness and efficiency;
exclusionary rules based on public policy; the rule against character evidence
and its exceptions; and other relevancy problems
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Privileges—Discusses all common law and statutory privileges, from
attorney-client to marital and family, and miscellaneous privileges such as
privileges of disabled persons. Includes timely discussion of the new
privilege for health care professionals in treatment programs
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Witnesses—Examines approaches to competency with regard to spouses,
children, and hypnotic recollection; direct and cross examination; expert
testimony; improper questions and answers; credibility and impeachment; and
reliability of identification evidence
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Hearsay—Offers exhaustive analysis of the Hearsay Rule and its
exceptions as applied by the courts in Connecticut, including the medical
treatment exception
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Scientific Evidence and Expert Testimony—Explains the Porter analysis
for expert scientific evidence