Tait's Handbook of Connecticut Evidence

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:

• 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
• 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
• 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
• Hearsay—Offers exhaustive analysis of the Hearsay Rule and its exceptions as applied by the courts in Connecticut, including the medical treatment exception
• Scientific Evidence and Expert Testimony—Explains the Porter analysis for expert scientific evidence