Prejudicial Error

Definition

Prejudicial error refers to a mistake in the court's proceedings that affects the rights of a party involved in a case, leading to an unfair outcome. Such errors can occur during trials when evidence is improperly admitted or excluded, or when the judge makes incorrect rulings that impact the jury's decision. This type of error is significant because it can lead to an appeal, where the higher court reviews the case to determine if the mistake had a substantial effect on the trial's outcome.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Prejudicial errors can arise from incorrect jury instructions, allowing evidence that should have been excluded, or denying a party's right to present crucial evidence.
2. The determination of whether an error is prejudicial often depends on whether it had a substantial impact on the outcome of the trial.
3. Parties typically must preserve issues for appeal by objecting during trial; failing to do so can result in waiving the right to claim prejudicial error later.
4. Not all errors lead to a reversal; courts look for significant prejudice that affects a party’s ability to receive a fair trial.
5. Prejudicial errors are central to appellate review, where higher courts assess whether trial court mistakes warrant a new trial or other remedies.

Review Questions

• How do prejudicial errors affect a party's right to a fair trial and what steps can parties take to address such errors during the proceedings?
  • Prejudicial errors directly impact a party's right to a fair trial by introducing mistakes that can influence jury decisions or trial outcomes. To address these errors, parties must actively raise objections during the trial, particularly if evidence is improperly admitted or jury instructions are flawed. By preserving issues for appeal through timely objections and motions, parties can ensure that appellate courts have grounds to review the alleged prejudicial errors.
• Discuss how the concept of harmless error relates to prejudicial error in the context of appellate review.
  • Harmless error and prejudicial error are two sides of the same coin in appellate review. A harmless error does not significantly affect the rights of a party or alter the trial's outcome, while a prejudicial error has substantial consequences that necessitate reconsideration. Courts often evaluate whether an alleged error had an impact on the verdict; if they determine it was harmless, they may uphold the original ruling despite recognizing some level of mistake.
• Evaluate how motions in limine can be utilized strategically by attorneys to prevent prejudicial errors before they occur during a trial.
  • Motions in limine serve as proactive tools for attorneys aiming to prevent prejudicial errors from occurring during trials. By filing these motions before trial starts, attorneys can request that certain evidence be excluded based on its potential to unfairly sway jurors or introduce bias. Successfully arguing these motions can create a more favorable environment for their case and reduce the risk of appeal based on claims of prejudicial error stemming from improperly admitted evidence.

Related terms

Harmless Error: A legal error that does not affect the substantial rights of the parties involved, meaning it is unlikely to have changed the outcome of the case.

Reversible Error: An error that is significant enough to potentially change the outcome of a trial, warranting a reversal of the judgment upon appeal.

Motions in Limine: Pre-trial motions that seek to exclude certain evidence from being presented at trial, often to prevent prejudicial errors from occurring.