Alabama Rules of Evidence

The Alabama Rules of Evidence were enacted by the Alabama Supreme Court to govern law practice in Alabama.  The rules posted below are current through the 2010 amendments.  We have posted the text of all of the rules as well as the committee comments, but we have not included the forms or the appendixes at this time.

The following links contain the text of each of the Alabama Rules of Evidence:

Article I. General Provisions

• Rule 101. Scope
• Rule 102. Purpose and construction
• Rule 103. Rulings on evidence
• Rule 104. Preliminary questions
• Rule 105. Limited admissibility
• Rule 106. Remainder of writings or recorded statements

Article II. Judicial Notice

• Rule 201. Judicial notice of adjudicative facts

Article III. Presumptions in Civil Actions and Proceedings

• Rule 301. Presumptions in general in civil actions and proceedings
• Rule 302. Applicability of federal law in civil actions and proceedings

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, wrongs, or acts
• 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. Admissibility of evidence relating to past sexual behavior of complaining witness in prosecution for criminal sexual conduct

Article V. Privileges

• Rule 501. Privileges recognized only as provided
• Rule 502. Attorney-client privilege
• Rule 503. Psychotherapist-patient privilege
• Rule 503A. Counselor-client privilege
• Rule 504. Husband-wife privilege
• Rule 505. Communications to clergymen
• Rule 506. Political vote
• Rule 507. Trade secrets
• Rule 508. Secrets of state and other official information: Governmental privileges
• Rule 509. Identity of informer
• Rule 510. Waiver of privilege by voluntary disclosure
• Rule 511. Privileged matter disclosed under compulsion or without opportunity to claim privilege
• Rule 512. Comment upon or inference from claim of privilege in criminal cases; instruction
• Rule 512A. Comment upon or inference from claim of privilege in civil cases

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
• Rule 616. Impeachment by evidence of bias, prejudice, or interest

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’s testimony unnecessary

Article X. Contents of Writings

• 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. Rules applicable
• Rule 1102. Title
• Rule 1103. Effective date

To discuss your options in appealing your case, call Bill Pfeifer at (800) 737-3702 Extension 1. You can also use the online Contact form on this website to send him an email about your situation.

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