What is the Rule 404 B limiting instruction?

Asked by: Zena Barrows  |  Last update: January 29, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (8 votes)

A Rule 404(b) limiting instruction is a judge's directive telling a jury to consider evidence of a person's past bad acts (other crimes/wrongs) only for specific permitted purposes (like motive, intent, or identity) and not to prove the person acted in conformity with a character trait (propensity evidence). This prevents jurors from wrongly using the evidence to infer the person is just a "bad person" who must have committed the current crime.

What is the Rule 404 B?

Rule 404(b) of the Federal Rules of Evidence makes inadmissible most character evidence regarding crimes or acts for which no charges were filed, but this rule should not be used to eliminate evidence of criminal activity committed by the defendant at the same time as the crime charged, as a predicate to the crime ...

What is the limiting instruction rule?

Limiting instructions is a directive from a judge advising the jury to consider certain evidence only for a specified purpose and not for any other use.

What is the difference between 404 A and 404 B?

Section 404(a) ensures robust internal controls but might divert focus from broader risk management. Section 404(b) encourages active involvement in assessment but might lack external scrutiny, potentially leaving blind spots in risk mitigation.

What does motion for evidence Rule 404 B disclosure mean?

404(b) evidence is evidence of prior bad acts that the prosecution can introduce in their case-in-chief. Under Federal Rule of Evidence (commonly abbreviated 'FRE') 404(b), the prosecution is able to introduce evidence of Defendant's prior bad acts that are not charged in the instant criminal case.

The Castle Law Firm: Understanding Rule 404(b)

28 related questions found

What is the hardest case to win in court?

The hardest cases to win in court often involve high emotional stakes, like crimes against children or sexual assault, where jurors struggle with bias; complex, voluminous evidence, such as white-collar fraud; and defenses that challenge societal norms, like an insanity plea, which faces high scrutiny and conflicting expert testimony. Cases with weak physical evidence, uncooperative witnesses (like in sex crimes), or those involving unpopular defendants (e.g., child abusers) are particularly challenging for defense attorneys.
 

What is the rule 404b response?

Rule 404(b) prohibits evidence of “crimes, wrongs, or other acts” if the purpose for admitting the evidence is to prove action in accordance with a character trait. This evidence is commonly referred to as “propensity” evidence, or “once a drug dealer, always a drug dealer” evidence.

What are the requirements for 404b?

Section 404(b) of the SOX Act helps ensure companies are honest about their finances. It requires them to have yearly checks of their internal controls to prevent fraud. By following these rules and having strong controls in place, companies can make investors and others trust that their financial reports are accurate.

What kind of evidence cannot be used in court?

Evidence not admissible in court often includes hearsay, illegally obtained evidence, irrelevant evidence, prior bad acts, and privileged communications, as well as overly prejudicial or speculative information, all of which violate legal rules, constitutional rights (like the 5th Amendment), or basic fairness to prevent misleading juries and protect rights. 

What is reverse 404 B evidence?

Reverse 404(b) evidence is the name courts have given to a less common use of Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b), wherein a defendant attempts to introduce the "other bad acts" of a third party, usually to prove that this third party committed the crime of which the defendant is accused or that the third party coerced the ...

What are the 4 types of evidence?

The four main types of evidence, especially in legal and academic contexts, are Testimonial (spoken/written statements), Documentary (written records), Physical/Real (tangible items), and Demonstrative (visual aids like charts/diagrams). Other categorizations exist, like evidence for arguments (anecdotal, descriptive, correlational, causal) or textual evidence (quoting, paraphrasing).
 

How does a judge decide the admissibility of evidence?

When either party proposes to give evidence of any fact, the Judge may ask the party proposing to give the evidence in what manner the alleged fact, if proved, would be relevant; and the Judge shall admit the evidence if he thinks that the fact, if proved, would be relevant, and not otherwise.

What is the legal term for not enough evidence?

insufficient evidence. n. a finding (decision) by a trial judge or an appeals court that the prosecution in a criminal case or a plaintiff in a lawsuit has not proved the case because the attorney did not present enough convincing evidence.

What is the SEC Rule 404 B?

Section 404(b) of the 2002 Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act (also known as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or SOX) requires the independent auditor of a public company to attest to, and report on, management's assessment of its internal accounting controls.

What are the three types of character evidence?

When character is admissible, there are three main ways to prove it: (1) prior or subsequent acts; (2) reputation; and (3) opinion. EC 1100, FRE 405. Acts are proved by a witness with personal knowledge or by a document such as a record of criminal conviction.

What is the 404 B modus operandi?

Modus operandi is used as a basis for admitting evidence of other crimes and is permitted by Rule 404(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Evidence.

Can screenshots of messages be used as evidence?

As with any evidence, chat screenshots must be both relevant (tending to prove or disprove a fact in issue) and material (of significant importance in the case). Irrelevant messages or screenshots that do not pertain to the dispute at hand are generally inadmissible.

What color do judges like to see in court?

Judges generally prefer neutral, conservative colors like navy, gray, black, and white, as these convey seriousness, respect, and professionalism, avoiding distractions in a formal court setting; bright colors, bold patterns, and overly casual attire should be avoided to show you're taking the proceedings seriously. While some suggest lighter, muted tones (like light blue) might leave a favorable impression, the key is sobriety and fitting in, not standing out.
 

How much evidence is enough to convict someone?

To secure a criminal conviction, the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of criminal charges. In a criminal case, direct evidence is a powerful way for a defendant to be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

What is the 404 B notice requirement?

The amendment to Rule 404(b) adds a pretrial notice requirement in criminal cases and is intended to reduce surprise and promote early resolution on the issue of admissibility. The notice requirement thus places Rule 404(b) in the mainstream with notice and disclosure provisions in other rules of evidence.

What is the difference between 404 A and 404b?

Remember that section 404(a) mandates management performs an internal assessment, while section 404(b) requires an independent auditor to evaluate whether management's assessment of the company's internal controls is accurate.

What is most likely to trigger an audit?

Here are 12 IRS audit triggers to be aware of:

  • Claiming 100% business use of a vehicle. ...
  • Claiming a loss on a hobby. ...
  • Home office deduction. ...
  • Deducting business meals, travel, and entertainment. ...
  • Earned income tax credit (EITC) ...
  • Dealing in cryptocurrency and other digital assets. ...
  • Taking early withdrawals from retirement accounts.

What makes a witness inadmissible?

Inadmissible evidence is typically not allowed due to factors such as lack of relevance, violation of constitutional rights, hearsay, or improper collection methods. Its exclusion is based on the principle that unreliable or prejudicial evidence should not be used to determine a person's guilt or innocence.

What is motion for evidence rule 404 B disclosure?

Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) provides that prior act evidence “is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith.” Evidence of prior bad acts usually cannot be admitted at trial to show the defendant's propensity to commit crimes similar to the offense in question.

What is an example of improper character evidence?

Common scenarios where character evidence may be improperly admitted: Prior bad acts: Introducing evidence of prior crimes, wrongs, or acts to show propensity or bad character. Reputation evidence: Introducing evidence of a person's general reputation to suggest they acted in accordance with that reputation.