MEMO
TO: Joint Procedure Committee
FROM: Mike Hagburg
DATE: April 4, 2012
RE: Form and Style Revisions to the Rules of Evidence
On December 1, 2011, form and style revisions to the Federal Rules of Evidence took effect. An explanation of the approach taken by the judicial conference in revising the federal evidence rules is attached.
Under Section 8.1(a) of the Rule on Rules, the Committee is tasked studying and reviewing all rules of pleading, practice and procedure, including the North Dakota Rules of Evidence. Section 8.6 requires the Committee to review each rule at least once every 10 years. Fortunately, since the late 1990s, the federal courts have been engaged in making form and style revisions to their rules of procedure. The Committee has been able to fulfill its responsibilities by reviewing North Dakota's rules in the wake of the federal changes, and has completed form and style revisions to the Rules of Appellate, Criminal and Civil Procedure.
The Committee addressed the 100 and 200 series rules at the January meeting. Proposed revisions to the 300, 400, 600, and 700 series rules are attached.