Criminal Evidence Exam #1 Questions Answered Correctly Graded A+
Why are the rules of evidence important in a democratic criminal justice system? - Answers They
balance the rights of the accused with public interest in justice
What was an early method used by the Normans to determine guilt or innocence since 1066? - Answers
Trial by ordeal
How did early English presentment juries function? - Answers They informed judges about local crimes
Why was the Magna Carta (1215) significant in the history of criminal law? - Answers It limited the king's
power in criminal prosecutions. There must be probable cause to justify arrest.
What is the purpose of a writ of habeas corpus? - Answers To force a government official to justify
holding a prisoner
When were the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, added to the U.S. Constitution? -
Answers 1791
According to Justice Scalia, what was the primary purpose of the Bill of Rights? - Answers To preserve
inherited English legal protections
What did the U.S. Supreme Court decide in County of Riverside v. McLaughlin (1991)? - Answers A
suspect arrested without a warrant must receive a probable cause hearing within 48 hours
In which case did the court rule that Hurricane Katrina justified a delay in a probable cause hearing? -
Answers Waganfeald v. Gusman
In which case did the U.S. Supreme Court affirm that the presumption of innocence is a fundamental
right? - Answers Estelle v. Williams
What factors did the U.S. Supreme Court establish in Barker v. Wingo for determining a violation of the
right to a speedy trial? - Answers The length of the delay, reasons for delay, assertion of the right, and
prejudice to the defendant
What did Strickland v. Washington establish regarding legal representation? - Answers Defendants must
prove their attorney's performance was deficient and prejudiced their case
What is the purpose of the Compulsory Process Clause in the Sixth Amendment? - Answers It allows the
accused to compel witnesses to testify in their favor
What historical event influenced the adoption of the Fourth Amendment's protection against
unreasonable searches and seizures? - Answers British use of general warrants known as writs of
assistance
What did Batson v. Kentucky (1986) establish regarding peremptory challenges? - Answers Defendants
can challenge peremptory strikes based on race. Prosecutors cannot exclude jurors based on race
, In Rivera v. Illinois (2009), what did the U.S. Supreme Court rule regarding jury selection errors? -
Answers A wrongful denial of a peremptory challenge does not violate due process if the seated jury is
impartial
What is the Latin meaning of the term habeas corpus? - Answers "To have the body"
When was the U.S. Constitution ratified? - Answers 1788
What is the primary purpose of the Fourth Amendment? - Answers To protect against unreasonable
searches and seizures
In Strickland v. Washington, what must a defendant prove to establish ineffective assistance of counsel?
- Answers The lawyer's performance was deficient and prejudiced the outcome of the case
What does the Sixth Amendment guarantee regarding trials? - Answers The right to a speedy and public
trial
What was the ruling in United States v. Martinez-Salazar (2000) regarding peremptory challenges? -
Answers The erroneous denial of a peremptory challenge does not automatically violate due process
What is the primary purpose of federalism in the United States? - Answers To divide power between the
state and federal governments
Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that powers not delegated to the federal government
are reserved to the states or the people? - Answers Tenth Amendment
In what year were the Federal Rules of Evidence enacted? - Answers 1975
Which of the following statements about the Federal Rules of Evidence is true? - Answers States may
modify them according to local needs.
Under what authority can Congress enact federal criminal law? - Answers The Constitution
Which is NOT an area where the federal government enacts criminal law? - Answers All crimes
committed within a state's jurisdiction
What is the primary role of a criminal trial in the American adversary system? - Answers To provide a
venue for determining the facts regarding guilt or innocence
Which of the following describes relevant evidence? - Answers Evidence that has a tendency to make a
material issue more or less probable
What is competent evidence? - Answers Evidence that is relevant and reliable and not otherwise
excludable. Catch-all term
Evidence that possesses a sufficient degree of likelihood that it is true and accurate. - Answers Reliable
evidence
Why are the rules of evidence important in a democratic criminal justice system? - Answers They
balance the rights of the accused with public interest in justice
What was an early method used by the Normans to determine guilt or innocence since 1066? - Answers
Trial by ordeal
How did early English presentment juries function? - Answers They informed judges about local crimes
Why was the Magna Carta (1215) significant in the history of criminal law? - Answers It limited the king's
power in criminal prosecutions. There must be probable cause to justify arrest.
What is the purpose of a writ of habeas corpus? - Answers To force a government official to justify
holding a prisoner
When were the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, added to the U.S. Constitution? -
Answers 1791
According to Justice Scalia, what was the primary purpose of the Bill of Rights? - Answers To preserve
inherited English legal protections
What did the U.S. Supreme Court decide in County of Riverside v. McLaughlin (1991)? - Answers A
suspect arrested without a warrant must receive a probable cause hearing within 48 hours
In which case did the court rule that Hurricane Katrina justified a delay in a probable cause hearing? -
Answers Waganfeald v. Gusman
In which case did the U.S. Supreme Court affirm that the presumption of innocence is a fundamental
right? - Answers Estelle v. Williams
What factors did the U.S. Supreme Court establish in Barker v. Wingo for determining a violation of the
right to a speedy trial? - Answers The length of the delay, reasons for delay, assertion of the right, and
prejudice to the defendant
What did Strickland v. Washington establish regarding legal representation? - Answers Defendants must
prove their attorney's performance was deficient and prejudiced their case
What is the purpose of the Compulsory Process Clause in the Sixth Amendment? - Answers It allows the
accused to compel witnesses to testify in their favor
What historical event influenced the adoption of the Fourth Amendment's protection against
unreasonable searches and seizures? - Answers British use of general warrants known as writs of
assistance
What did Batson v. Kentucky (1986) establish regarding peremptory challenges? - Answers Defendants
can challenge peremptory strikes based on race. Prosecutors cannot exclude jurors based on race
, In Rivera v. Illinois (2009), what did the U.S. Supreme Court rule regarding jury selection errors? -
Answers A wrongful denial of a peremptory challenge does not violate due process if the seated jury is
impartial
What is the Latin meaning of the term habeas corpus? - Answers "To have the body"
When was the U.S. Constitution ratified? - Answers 1788
What is the primary purpose of the Fourth Amendment? - Answers To protect against unreasonable
searches and seizures
In Strickland v. Washington, what must a defendant prove to establish ineffective assistance of counsel?
- Answers The lawyer's performance was deficient and prejudiced the outcome of the case
What does the Sixth Amendment guarantee regarding trials? - Answers The right to a speedy and public
trial
What was the ruling in United States v. Martinez-Salazar (2000) regarding peremptory challenges? -
Answers The erroneous denial of a peremptory challenge does not automatically violate due process
What is the primary purpose of federalism in the United States? - Answers To divide power between the
state and federal governments
Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that powers not delegated to the federal government
are reserved to the states or the people? - Answers Tenth Amendment
In what year were the Federal Rules of Evidence enacted? - Answers 1975
Which of the following statements about the Federal Rules of Evidence is true? - Answers States may
modify them according to local needs.
Under what authority can Congress enact federal criminal law? - Answers The Constitution
Which is NOT an area where the federal government enacts criminal law? - Answers All crimes
committed within a state's jurisdiction
What is the primary role of a criminal trial in the American adversary system? - Answers To provide a
venue for determining the facts regarding guilt or innocence
Which of the following describes relevant evidence? - Answers Evidence that has a tendency to make a
material issue more or less probable
What is competent evidence? - Answers Evidence that is relevant and reliable and not otherwise
excludable. Catch-all term
Evidence that possesses a sufficient degree of likelihood that it is true and accurate. - Answers Reliable
evidence
