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LSDefine

Simple English definitions for legal terms

lay a foundation

Read a random definition: liber ruber scaccarii

A quick definition of lay a foundation:

Definition: Laying a foundation is the process of proving to a judge that evidence is real and trustworthy before it can be shown to a jury. This is important because evidence that doesn't have a proper foundation can't be used in court. The person who wants to use the evidence has to show that it's real and important. Sometimes this is easy, like when someone saw something happen and can tell the court about it. Other times, it's harder, like when a scientist has to explain why their research is important. Even if evidence has a good foundation, it might still not be allowed in court if it's not helpful or fair to both sides.

A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Lay a foundation is the process of proving to a judge that the evidence being presented is what the person offering it claims it is. Before evidence can be presented to a jury, it must have a proper foundation. The person offering the evidence is responsible for laying the foundation, and if they fail to do so, the judge will exclude the evidence. Laying a foundation can be as simple as an eyewitness stating that they saw something happen and are qualified to testify about it. Other examples include showing that an expert witness is knowledgeable in their field or authenticating physical evidence. However, even if a proper foundation is laid, the evidence may still be excluded if it is irrelevant, hearsay, or could unfairly influence the jury.

Example: During a trial, a witness is called to testify about a car accident they witnessed. Before they can testify, the lawyer must lay a foundation by asking the witness questions to establish their qualifications to testify. The lawyer might ask the witness if they were present at the scene of the accident, if they saw what happened, and if they have any expertise that would make their testimony more reliable. Once the foundation is laid, the witness can testify about what they saw.

Example: In a criminal trial, the prosecution wants to introduce a knife as evidence. Before they can do so, they must lay a foundation by showing that the knife is relevant to the case and that it is the same knife that was used in the crime. They might do this by having a witness testify that they found the knife at the scene of the crime and that it matches the description of the knife used in the crime. Once the foundation is laid, the knife can be introduced as evidence.

lawyer | lay witness

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16:47
i'd reach out to their admissions and check up on it
I did 2x and they said "The vast majority of candidates who have submitted their complete application by our deadline will be notified by the last day of April"
like kinda fucked
16:50
ugh that's so annoying
law schools that ghost should give you your money back
or reject
like man GIVE IT BACK!!!!
ClassyPleasantHeron
16:56
Schools explicitly asking applicants to retake the LSAT are TTTs pretending to be 2nd tier.
LMAOOO
like man oklahoma more like oklahowaboutyoueatmyshoe
me when that person on reddit said UofU wave and it's.... 3 people
help who just posted that right after I started bitching in chat
my heart fell straight into my ass mind u
and i just got a fucking app status tracker update... not for UofU... my BP is so spiked rn
QuarrelsomeTurkey
18:29
does anyone know if bu ever releases after 5 pm
Lol @jupitersmoons It feels like UofU is screwing with us haha
fr like I know it"s Mountain Time but bestie we have less than half an hour before typical EOD
what we doing
Real
19:17
new COAs are out
19:37
Anyone know how long it takes to get aid package after getting admitted to UChicago or Northwestern?
I’d ask in the t14 chat bc lol it may be a bit until you can get someone who can answer that question here
21:19
@syddak: Oof tough spot. Congrats on the As. Did either indicate either via email/mail that they would be following up with aid, and if so, did they provide a time frame? It may be acceptable to email them and indicate seat deposits are fast approaching and you are curious if you can expect further info (aid) from the school to aid u in ur decision..
0:26
@UnderRepresentedTryhard: that’s a greater than sign. Meaning outside t14
0:27
Schools>t14
IrishDinosaur
13:38
I'm convinced USC doesn't really exist
IrishDinosaur
13:38
it's an elaborate hoax
i showed a guy at asd my lsd profile. little does he know that im an influencer
babycakes
16:36
u such a crazy flexer
the fellas were impressed by the r less cycle
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