What is irrelevant evidence called?

Asked by: Prof. Ruben Mueller  |  Last update: October 16, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (26 votes)

all words any words phrase. incompetent evidence. n. testimony, documents or things which one side attempts to present as evidence during trial, which the court finds (usually after objection by the opposition) are not admissible because they are irrelevant or immaterial to the issues in the lawsuit.

What is irrelevant evidence?

Irrelevant evidence is that evidence that is deemed immaterial or not relating to the matter at issue. Irrelevant evidence is deemed impertinent to a fact or argument and it is not material to a decision in the case. Irrelevant evidence is commonly objected to and disallowed at trial.

What is invalid evidence called?

inadmissible evidence. In contrast to admissible evidence , inadmissible evidence is evidence that may not be introduced to a factfinder (usually the judge or jury ) to prove the party's claim.

What are the 4 different types of evidence?

Broadly categorized, there are four main evidentiary pillars: real evidence, demonstrative evidence, documentary evidence, and testimonial evidence.

What is the legal term for not relevant?

irrelevant. adj. not important, pertinent, or germane to the matter at hand or to any issue before the court.

Evidence Law: The Rule of Relevance and Admissibility of Character Evidence

20 related questions found

What do they say in court when something is irrelevant?

The key word is “unwarranted.” The judge will weigh the amount of annoyance or embarrassment against the relevance of the evidence, and the need for the evidence in the case.

What is a word for something that is not relevant?

adjective
  • meaningless.
  • immaterial.
  • inapplicable.
  • extraneous.
  • useless.
  • inappropriate.
  • impertinent.
  • beside the point.

What kind of evidence is not admissible in court?

Inadmissible evidence is evidence that lawyers can't present to a jury. Forms of evidence judges consider inadmissible include hearsay, prejudicial, improperly obtained or irrelevant items. For example, investigators use polygraph tests to determine whether a person is lying about the events of a case.

What is meant by circumstantial 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. Circumstantial evidence requires drawing additional reasonable inferences in order to support the claim.

What is a preponderance of the evidence?

To prove an element by a preponderance of the evidence simply means to prove that something is more likely than not. In other words, in light of the evidence and the law, do you believe that each element of his/her [claim/counterclaim] is more likely true than not?

What is the legal term for weak evidence?

insufficient evidence. Insufficient evidence is the evidence which fails to meet the burden of proof and is inadequate to prove a fact .

What words do lawyers use in court?

The following definitions will make it easier for you to understand common legal words and phrases used frequently during a trial.
  • Action, Case, Suit. A legal dispute brought into court for a hearing or trial.
  • Answer. ...
  • Acquit. ...
  • Cause of Action. ...
  • Challenge for Cause. ...
  • Closing Argument. ...
  • Complaint. ...
  • Counterclaim.

What is the legal term for a type of evidence that unless refuted?

Prima facie may be used as an adjective meaning "sufficient to establish a fact or raise a presumption unless disproved or rebutted." An example of this would be to use the term "prima facie evidence."

What is unusable evidence called?

Inadmissible evidence refers to information or material that is not allowed to be presented to the judge or jury in a court proceeding.

What is the fallacy of irrelevant evidence?

Fallacies of irrelevance are fallacies in which the premises are irrelevant to the conclusion. Such a fallacy is often called a non sequitur(“does not follow”), which is an argument in which the conclusion does not follow from the premises.

What is not relevant evidence?

Rule 403 is analogous to California Evidence Code Section 352 and provides that “the court may exclude relevant evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by a danger of one or more of the following: unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, misleading the jury, undue delay, wasting time, or needlessly ...

What are the 4 types of circumstantial evidence?

Four examples of circumstantial evidence include physical evidence, human behavior, indirect witness testimony, and scientific evidence. A combination of these forms of evidence is often enough to convict someone, but they are still not as powerful as a direct witness of the crime.

What makes evidence inadmissible?

It is evidence excluded from consideration during the trial or any other legal proceedings. Inadmissible evidence is typically not allowed due to factors such as lack of relevance, violation of constitutional rights, hearsay, or improper collection methods.

What is prima facie evidence?

Prima facie evidence means that proof of the first fact permits, but does not require, the fact finder, in the absence of competing evidence, to find that the second fact is true beyond a reasonable doubt.

What is an example of irrelevant evidence?

In court, evidence can be called irrelevant if it doesn't help prove or disprove what's being argued. For example, if someone was hurt in a car accident, it doesn't prove that someone else was hurt in the same accident. Rules exist to decide if evidence is relevant or not.

Can you convict on circumstantial evidence?

3. Can a person be convicted with just circumstantial evidence? Criminal law does allow prosecutors to convict a defendant using just circumstantial evidence. In fact, this proof is not considered to be inherently less reliable than direct proof.

What is the strongest form of evidence against a defendant?

Direct evidence carries significant weight in a trial as it leaves little room for doubt or interpretation. It provides a strong basis for establishing the guilt of a defendant and can significantly impact the outcome of a case.

What is the legal term for irrelevant?

: not applicable or pertinent [ allegations] [ evidence] compare immaterial. ir·rel·e·vant·ly adv.

What is a word for deemed irrelevant?

extraneous, immaterial, inappropriate, inconsequential, insignificant, pointless, trivial, unimportant, unnecessary, unrelated.

What is a word for not relevant?

extraneous, immaterial, impertinent, orthogonal. not pertinent to the matter under consideration. inapplicable, unsuitable.