law

Out of all the texts I have read and used in my first two years of law school, this is one I would rank on the lower end.

First of all, I recognize the fact that it is a difficult job trying to put together a comprehensive study of evidence. It contains some of the law's more difficult areas including hearsay and character evidence, both of which could be (and are) multi-volume studies unto themselves. That being said, I encountered more than a few problems with this book having nothing to do with the topic.

The case selections are standard, most were on point as far as I can recall. The real problems came in the case notes and explanatory sections. I found myself having to refer to my hornbook again and again in an effort to find some lucid passages on the topic. Instead of explaining in plain terms how the evidentiary rule works, they rely on the cases. Where there are such explanatory sections, they are often far too short for such complicated topics. However, the book's most glaring fault comes from its treatment of the post-case note sections. For most, these passages are extremely important since they show how the law has evolved in the wake of the preceding case. They also frequently offer guides to help the reader interpret the law as applied and give hints as to which points in the opinion have been the most influential. This book offers little in the way of such help, opting instead to ask open-ended questions. These questions quickly become aggravating and are almost totally useless as a learning tool. I realize that the law is not black and white, but there is such thing as a majority rule or prevailing law. I want to read something that I can hang my hat on; I don't want to read "How ought such a case be resolved?" Such questions are neither thought provoking nor helpful.

I also am not a fan of the entire Mueller/Kirkpatrick series. The books are smaller than most, which I like since law books tend to be a pain to carry around. However, smaller dimensions also mean smaller margins, which are difficult to take notes in. This annoyance outweighed the benefits of its size.

Overall, I think there are better evidence books out there. My professor apparently agreed since she announced at the end of the semester that she will be switching to a different text.