evidence

Character evidence is evidence on an individual’s personality traits, propensities, or moral standing. 

• criminal procedure
• evidence

Circumstantial evidence is indirect evidence that does not, on its face, prove a fact in issue but gives rise to a logical inference that the fact exists.

• evidence

Civil forfeiture allows the government (typically the police) to seize — and then keep or sell — any property that is allegedly involved in a crime or illegal activity. Owners need not ever be arrested or convicted of a crime for their cash, cars, or even real estate to be taken away permanently by the government.

• CIVIL FORFEITURE
• asset forfeiture
• FORFEITURE
• PROPERTY RIGHTS
• search and seizure
• constitutional law
• Fourth Amendment
• Fifth Amendment
• eighth amendment
• due process

“Clear and convincing evidence” is a medium level burden of proof which must be met for certain convictions/judgments.

• criminal law
• burden of proof
• evidence
• EVIDENCE LAW
• preponderance
• REASONABLE DOUBT
• CIVIL LAW

Comment is a statement made by the judge or attorney to the jury about the evidence during a trial.

Competence is the capacity or minimal ability to do something; the mental and physical ability to carry out a given task. A few examples are: competence to stand trial, competence to be executed, competence to hold public office, and competence to practice law. While context determines the specific inquiry, the foundational requirement, common to all measures of competence, is a basic awareness of one’s identity, condition, surroundings, and the identity of others. See also: competent.

The term competent is used in various legal contexts, including procedure, evidence, and employment. More generally, it refers to the ability to act in the circumstances, including the ability to perform a job or occupation, the capacity to reason, or to make decisions.

Competent evidence is the evidence which is legally admissible. Competent evidence tends to prove the matter in dispute. For example; in a murder trial, competent evidence might include the murder weapon with the defendant's fingerprints on it.

A competent witness is one who has the sufficient mental capacity to perceive, remember, and narrate the incident they have observed. A competent witness must also be able to understand and appreciate the nature and obligation of an oath. For example, a child who is unable to understand the meaning of an oath because of their young age is not a competent witness.