Trial Evidence Brought to Life is a unique, insightful and engaging guide to the law of evidence. Author Martin A. Schwartz enlivens an intricate, technical subject by using evidentiary examples from popular culture to provide a strong understanding of the Federal Rules of Evidence, and its interpretive case law which represents the prevailing evidence law in the United States.

Also, this unique instructive approach provides an understanding of how popular culture sources inform jurors’ preconceptions about the trial process. Illustrations from famous cases, movies, novels, cartoons, and other media highlight the presumptions jurors bring to the courtroom.

Trial Evidence Brought to Life covers a wide range of issues, including relevance and unfair prejudice, the rule against hearsay and its numerous exceptions, recent developments in expert testimony, and the various impeachment methods.

You’ll receive clear guidance on the following: 

• Differences between expert witness and lay witness testimony, including how courts handle the dual fact-expert witness
• Procedures for juror questioning of witnesses
• Admissibility of videotape evidence
• Recent developments under the Confrontation Clause
• Requirements for introducing electronic evidence,
• And more!

Professor Emeritus of Law Martin A. Schwartz is one of the nation's leading authorities on Section 1983 civil rights litigation and is the author of a multi-volume treatise on that subject.  He has argued three Section 1983 cases in the United States Supreme Court. He is the author of Essential Trial Evidence, Brought to Life by Famous Trials, Film, and Fiction (2017).  He recently published Schwartz on Section 1983, Law and Commentary (PLI Press 2021).  He has been a columnist for the New York Law Journal for over 45 years.  He also chaired the Practising Law Institute’s program on Trial Evidence, and chairs the Section 1983 Civil Rights Litigation program.