Evidence & Trial Practice Flashcards
7 cards from real MPOETC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Evidence & Trial Practice flashcards as text
Exculpatory evidence — evidence favorable to the defendant — must be disclosed to the defense under which legal obligation?
Answer: The Brady doctrine requiring disclosure of all material exculpatory evidence
Brady v. Maryland requires prosecutors (and by extension, police) to disclose material exculpatory evidence to the defense.
An officer photographs a crime scene. These photographs are BEST classified as:
Answer: Demonstrative evidence because they illustrate what the scene looked like
Crime scene photographs are demonstrative evidence — they illustrate and help explain real conditions for the jury.
Under the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment, a defendant has the right to:
Answer: Cross-examine witnesses who testify against them
The Confrontation Clause guarantees a defendant the right to face and cross-examine witnesses who offer testimony against them.
Which of the following statements about circumstantial evidence is CORRECT?
Answer: Circumstantial evidence can be sufficient alone to support a conviction
Circumstantial evidence, which requires an inference to connect it to a fact, can be sufficient by itself to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If a police officer discovers that their testimony conflicts with a statement in their own report, the officer should:
Answer: Acknowledge the report, request to review it, and clarify any discrepancy honestly
An officer should acknowledge the written report, review it, and honestly clarify any difference between the report and their current recollection.
The 'inevitable discovery' exception to the exclusionary rule provides that illegally obtained evidence may be admitted if:
Answer: The evidence would have been discovered through lawful means independent of the illegal act
The inevitable discovery doctrine allows illegally obtained evidence if the prosecution can demonstrate it would have been discovered through an independent, lawful investigation.
When a defense attorney objects to an officer's testimony as 'speculation,' the objection is sustained when the officer:
Answer: Guesses about what a suspect was thinking or intended without factual basis
Speculation objections are sustained when a witness offers opinion or guesses about facts not within their direct knowledge, such as a suspect's mental state.