§ 40.155 Rule 402. Relevant evidence generally admissible

If evidence actually matters to the case, courts will generally let it in. This is the basic starting point for what can be shown or told to a jury. As long as evidence helps prove or disprove something that's actually at issue in the case, it's usually allowed.

There are some exceptions, though. Even if evidence is relevant, it can still be kept out if another law says so. This includes specific rules in the Oregon Evidence Code, the U.S. or Oregon Constitution, or other Oregon laws and court decisions. So relevance gets evidence in the door, but other rules can still block it.

On the flip side, if evidence has nothing to do with the case and doesn't help prove or disprove anything at issue, it's not allowed at all. Courts won't let in facts, documents, or testimony that don't connect to the actual questions the case needs to answer.