Fiona Hum

Australian Uniform Evidence Law is an essential textbook for students and emerging practitioners. Providing a practical and clear introduction to this complex subject, the text covers the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) and its operation across uniform Evidence Act jurisdictions. The textbook highlights the legislative extracts for each uniform evidence jurisdiction and discusses cases that inform the application of these provisions. The third edition includes updated cases and changes to the law, guiding students through the application of the Act and providing opportunities to apply new knowledge of evidence law in its ever-changing context. Chapters are written in an accessible style, featuring a summary of key points, a list of key terms and definitions, and further readings. Practice questions with guided solutions ensure students effectively apply their learnt knowledge to real-world examples. The final chapter, 'Putting it all together', comprises complex practice problems that test students' understanding of the concepts and rules covered.

This monograph analyses controversial trial outcomes (both civil and criminal) through a post structural feminist lens of narrative creation. It considers how narratives are constructed in trials and how the admission or exclusion of evidence can lead to the formation of distorted narratives that produce flawed outcomes. The book discusses contemporary evidential challenges surrounding the societal and legal framing of ‘truth’ within the Anglo-American trial process. It applies a post-structural feminist approach to examine how facts and rules are interpreted through the construction of legal stories. Chapters are organised to address key themes in high profile cases from around the globe. These include the cases of George Cardinal Pell, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, Lawyer X, Brittany Higgins and Kathleen Folbigg. This book departs from previous publications, such as those with a traditional feminist perspective, in that it presents both sides of the distorted lens where a defendant is written into a story as both guilty and innocent. Its focus on cognitive and narrative processes provides insight into the role of narratives and evidence construction in the trial process, and how such processes are used by legal advocates. This book would be of interest to scholars of legal psychology, criminology and socio-legal studies. It will also interest scholars and students of evidence law, especially those studying miscarriages of justice.

Now in its second edition, Australian Uniform Evidence Law provides a clear, accessible introduction to the law of evidence. Following the structure of the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), the text introduces students to basic principles, then covers more complex elements of evidence law. Cases and excerpts from legislation have been selected to guide students through the application of the Act. This edition has been updated to include significant recent case examples and decisions. Each chapter includes a summary of key points, definitions and practice questions to encourage students to apply their knowledge to realistic scenarios. The final chapter comprises longer-form, complex problems designed to test students' understanding of the concepts and rules covered in the Act as a whole. Guided solutions to each question are provided so students can check their understanding. Providing clear explanations and examples, Australian Uniform Evidence Law is an essential resource for all students of evidence law.