prejudicial evidence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prejudicial evidence" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to refer to evidence that may unfairly sway a jury or judge against a party in a trial. Example: "The defense argued that the introduction of prejudicial evidence would compromise the fairness of the trial."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

In their ruling on Thursday, the justices cited prejudicial evidence by the prosecution that was not properly explained to the jury or dismissed by the original trial judge.

The New York Times

In their ruling Thursday, the justices cited prejudicial evidence by the prosecution that was not properly explained to the jury or dismissed by the original trial judge.

The New York Times

In other cases, judges permitted the prosecution to introduce highly prejudicial evidence, including images and videos of terrorist attacks and sniper strikes on U.S. troops, without in any way linking those attacks to the actions of the defendants.

The New Yorker

Her first appeal was denied in October 2008, but Hong Kong's highest court overturned the conviction last February, saying prejudicial evidence had been introduced by the prosecution that was not properly explained to the jury or dismissed by the trial judge.

The New York Times

"Unfairly prejudicial" evidence may be evidence that the defendant has a bad character or graphic and gruesome pictures of the crime, etc.

SEP

Courts are committed to the theory that juries can disregard prejudicial evidence or improper conduct when properly instructed by the trial judge.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"They were bombarded with imagery and prejudicial testimony and evidence," he said.

The New York Times

Allen Green added: "For a court to order a national broadcaster not to show such a programme really should only be done if there was direct evidence of prejudicial content.

The Guardian

His lawyer accused prosecutors of conducting a flawed and prejudicial investigation using tainted evidence and raised the possibility - not yet confirmed by judges or prosecutors - that this week's hearings would be adjourned because witnesses for the prosecution could not attend court.

Independent

Claims to the contrary have rested upon selective and prejudicial use of this evidence due to the tendency to privilege Socrates' remarks on Zeno's purposes over Zeno's own qualifications and corrections of that analysis.

SEP

Judges routinely exclude evidence when its prejudicial effect outweighs its probative value — an odd phrase that can be explained with an example from Hitt's article.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal matters, ensure that you accurately reflect the criteria for deeming evidence as "prejudicial evidence". This often involves demonstrating how the evidence's potential to unfairly sway a jury outweighs its probative value.

Common error

Avoid using "prejudicial" loosely to describe anything you disagree with. In legal contexts, "prejudicial" has a specific meaning related to unfair influence on a jury, so it's crucial to use it accurately and in appropriate situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prejudicial evidence" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "prejudicial" modifies the noun "evidence". As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase appears in contexts where evidence is being evaluated for its potential to unfairly influence a legal decision.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

43%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prejudicial evidence" is a phrase used mainly in legal contexts to describe evidence that could unfairly sway a jury or judge. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently encountered in news and legal documentation. When writing, focus on using the term accurately to reflect its specific legal meaning, avoiding its casual application. This will ensure your content is both precise and credible, drawing on the understanding of what constitutes unfairly influential material in a trial setting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

biased evidence

Focuses on the slant or partiality present in the evidence.

unfair evidence

Highlights the lack of equity or justice in the use of the evidence.

inflammatory evidence

Emphasizes the evidence's potential to provoke strong emotional reactions.

misleading evidence

Points out the evidence's tendency to create a false impression.

incriminating evidence

Stresses the evidence's role in suggesting guilt or culpability.

tainted evidence

Indicates that the evidence has been compromised or corrupted.

compromised evidence

Similar to 'tainted evidence', but it emphasizes the loss of integrity or reliability.

damaging evidence

Concentrates on the harm or disadvantage the evidence can cause.

adverse evidence

Highlights the evidence's opposition to a particular claim or argument.

unreliable evidence

Underlines the untrustworthy nature of the evidence

FAQs

What does "prejudicial evidence" mean in legal terms?

In legal contexts, "prejudicial evidence" refers to evidence that, while potentially relevant, could unfairly sway a jury or judge due to its inflammatory nature or potential to create bias, outweighing its probative value.

When might evidence be considered "prejudicial"?

Evidence might be deemed "prejudicial" if it presents graphic details or introduces irrelevant character information that could cause the jury to make a decision based on emotion rather than facts. This is evaluated against its relevance to the case.

What can I say instead of "prejudicial evidence"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "biased evidence", "unfair evidence", or "inflammatory evidence" to describe evidence that presents an unbalanced or unfair perspective.

How do courts handle "prejudicial evidence"?

Courts often exclude "prejudicial evidence" if its potential to unfairly influence the jury outweighs its relevance to the case. Judges may also provide specific instructions to the jury to disregard certain evidence to mitigate its potential impact.