Trial Court Rules of Evidence – 2026

The evidence rules, numbered on the Federal Rules of Evidence (101 through 1101) and cited "403 TCREv". TCREv 1101 gives them unusually wide reach: they apply in all courts of American Samoa and generally to civil actions including maritime cases, to criminal cases, to LAND AND TITLES proceedings and to contempt proceedings. Custom is not built into these rules but into the tribunal that applies them — a matai-title case is decided by the majority of the four matai associate judges with the law-trained justice abstaining, and the Land and Titles Division may proceed by "natural justice and convenience" where the rules are silent.

Last updated September 14, 2026

Browse all 62 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

Article I. General Provisions.

Rule 101 Title and Scope Rule 102 Purpose and Construction Rule 103 Rulings of Evidence Rule 104 Preliminary Questions Rule 105 Limited Admissibility Rule 106 Remainder of or Related Writings or Recorded Statements

Article II. Judicial Notice

Rule 201 Judicial Notice of Adjudicative Facts

Article III. Presumptions in Civil and Criminal

Rule 301 Presumptions in Civil Cases Rule 302 Applicability in Civil Cases Rule 303 Presumptions in Criminal Cases

Article IV. Relevancy and Its Limits.

Rule 401 Definition of “Relevant Evidence” Rule 402 Relevant Evidence Generally Admissible; Irrelevant Evidence Inadmissible Rule 403 Exclusion of Relevant Evidence on Grounds of Prejudice, Confusion, or Waste of Time Rule 404 Character Evidence Not Admissible to Prove Conduct; Exceptions; Other Crimes Rule 405 Methods of Proving Character Rule 406 Habit; Routine Practice Rule 407 Subsequent Remedial Measures Rule 408 Compromise and Offers to Compromise Rule 409 Payment of Medical and Similar Expenses Rule 410 Inadmissibility of Pleas, Plea Discussions, and Related Statements Rule 411 Liability Insurance Rule 412 Rape Cases; Relevance of Victim’s Past Behavior

Article V. Privileges.

Rule 501 General Rule

Article VI. Witnesses.

Rule 601 General Rule of Competency Rule 602 Lack of Personal Knowledge Rule 603 Oath or Affirmation Rule 604 Interpreters Rule 605 Competency of Judge as Witness Rule 606 Competency of Juror as Witness Rule 607 Who May Impeach Rule 608 Evidence of Character and Conduct of Witness Rule 609 Impeachment by Evidence of Conviction of Crime Rule 610 Religious Beliefs or Opinions Rule 611 Mode and Order of Interrogation and Presentation Rule 612 Writing Used to Refresh Memory Rule 613 Prior Statements of Witnesses Rule 614 Calling and Interrogation of Witnesses by Court Rule 615 Exclusion of Witnesses

Article VII. Opinions and Expert Testimony.

Rule 701 Opinion Testimony by Lay Witnesses Rule 702 Testimony by Experts Rule 703 Bases of Opinion Testimony by Experts Rule 704 Opinion on Ultimate Issue Rule 705 Disclosure of Facts or Data Underlying Expert Opinion Rule 706 Court Appointed Experts

Article VIII. Hearsay.

Rule 801 Definitions Rule 802 Hearsay Rule Rule 803 Hearsay Exceptions; Availability of Declarant Immaterial Rule 804 Hearsay Exceptions; Declarant Unavailable Rule 805 Hearsay Within Hearsay Rule 806 Attacking and Supporting Credibility of Declarant

Article IX. Authentication and Identification.

Rule 901 Requirement of Authentication or Identification Rule 902 Self-authentication Rule 903 Subscribing Witness Testimony Unnecessary

Article X.

Rule 1001 Definitions Rule 1002 Requirement of Original Rule 1003 Admissibility of Duplicates Rule 1004 Admissibility of Other Evidence of Contents Rule 1005 Public Records Rule 1006 Summaries Rule 1007 Testimony or Written Admission of Party Rule 1008 Functions of Court and Jury

Article XI. Miscellaneous Rules.

Rule 1101 Applicability of Rules