What is the role of the Rules of Evidence?

The role of the Rules of Evidence is to ensure that the judicial process is fair and just by preventing the introduction of evidence that could cause unfair prejudice against a party in a trial. These rules are designed to maintain the focus on relevant, reliable, and admissible evidence while safeguarding the integrity of the legal proceedings. By establishing standards for what evidence can be presented, the Rules of Evidence promote a balanced evaluation of the facts, allowing the fact-finder (judge or jury) to make decisions based on sound reasoning rather than being swayed by potentially inflammatory or misleading information. This helps to uphold the principles of fairness and justice within the legal system.

In contrast, introducing evidence that is prejudicial would undermine these principles, and ensuring all available evidence is presented could lead to the inclusion of such prejudicial information. Prioritizing witness testimonies over physical evidence does not align with the aim of the Rules, as the focus should be on the relevance and quality of all types of evidence presented in court.