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When it comes the rules of evidence, there can be a big difference between a "policy" and a "habit" (or "custom," when it comes to a business entity). A decent (albeit nonlegal) illustration of the difference is the late Howie Sugden.* Howie had a policy of fighting anyone during pickup hockey games who, in his opinion, "played cheap." So while there was a decent chance his gloves might come off whenever he took the ice, it wasn't necessarily guaranteed. But when it came to his smoking, that was...

Character evidence is similar to hearsay in that there is a general rule of inadmissibility followed by so many exceptions that they often gobble up the general rule. But what can make character evidence trickier is that even when it is admissible, there are specific rules about the type of character evidence that is allowed. This article provides a road map so that trial lawyers can know the what, when, and how of character evidence.  

What is Character Evidence?

"Although the term 'charac...

2017 revealed that countless people (men, mostly) in powerful positions used their authority to sexually harass or assault subordinates (women, mostly). Time Magazine's "person of the year" were the "Silence Breakers." Oprah Winfrey gave an impassioned speech at 2018's Golden Globe awards on the topic, which led to talk of a potential presidential run. And while #MeToo became a movement thanks to an Alyssa Milano tweet, the "me too" legal doctrine has been litigated in courtrooms for years. 

In...