Circumstantial Evidence in United States

Circumstantial Evidence Definition

The proof of certain facts and circumstances in a given case from which the jury may infer other connected facts which uusally and reasonably follow according to the common experience of mankind. 272 111. 179. That which is applied to the principal fact indirectly, or through the medium of other facts, by establishing certain circumstances or minor facts from which the principal fact is gathered by a process of inference. See 3 Benth. Jud. Ev. 2, 5. The process by which a fact not directly known is inferred from known facts or circumstances. 1 Starkie, Ev. 18. The terms circumstantial and presumptive are often used interchangeably to denote the same kind of evidence, but in strictness this is not correct. Presumptive evidence is a species of circumstantial evidence, though so large a species as to be almost coextensive with its genus. Evidence may be circumstantial without being presumptive, either because it fails to raise a presumption, or because the inference to which it gives rise is stronger than mere presumption. Burrill, Circ. Ev. 76. Circumstantial evidence is of two kinds, namely: certain, or that from which the conclusion in question necessarily follows; and uncertain, or that from which the conclusion does not necessarily follow, but is probable only, and is obtained by process of reasoning. 127 111. 520.

Circumstantial Evidence in Foreign Legal Encyclopedias

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Circumstantial Evidence	Circumstantial Evidence in the World Legal Encyclopedia.
Circumstantial Evidence	Circumstantial Evidence in the European Legal Encyclopedia.
Circumstantial Evidence	Circumstantial Evidence in the Asian Legal Encyclopedia.
Circumstantial Evidence	Circumstantial Evidence in the UK Legal Encyclopedia.
Circumstantial Evidence	Circumstantial Evidence in the Australian Legal Encyclopedia.

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Circumstantial Evidence	Circumstantial Evidence in the Family Law Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Circumstantial Evidence	Circumstantial Evidence in the IP Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Circumstantial Evidence	Circumstantial Evidence in the Commercial Law Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Circumstantial Evidence	Circumstantial Evidence in the Criminal Law Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Circumstantial Evidence	Circumstantial Evidence in the Antritrust Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Circumstantial Evidence	Circumstantial Evidence in the Bankruptcy Law Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Circumstantial Evidence	Circumstantial Evidence in the Constitutional Law Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Circumstantial Evidence	Circumstantial Evidence in the Tax Law Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
Circumstantial Evidence	Circumstantial Evidence in the and Finance and Banking Portal of the American Encyclopedia of Law.
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Legal Issue for Attorneys

The proof of certain facts and circumstances in a given case from which the jury may infer other connected facts which uusally and reasonably follow according to the common experience of mankind. 272 111. 179. That which is applied to the principal fact indirectly, or through the medium of other facts, by establishing certain circumstances or minor facts from which the principal fact is gathered by a process of inference. See 3 Benth. Jud. Ev. 2, 5. The process by which a fact not directly known is inferred from known facts or circumstances. 1 Starkie, Ev. 18. The terms circumstantial and presumptive are often used interchangeably to denote the same kind of evidence, but in strictness this is not correct. Presumptive evidence is a species of circumstantial evidence, though so large a species as to be almost coextensive with its genus. Evidence may be circumstantial without being presumptive, either because it fails to raise a presumption, or because the inference to which it gives rise is stronger than mere presumption. Burrill, Circ. Ev. 76. Circumstantial evidence is of two kinds, namely: certain, or that from which the conclusion in question necessarily follows; and uncertain, or that from which the conclusion does not necessarily follow, but is probable only, and is obtained by process of reasoning. 127 111. 520.

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Notice

This definition of Circumstantial Evidence Is based on the The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary . This definition needs to be proofread..

Practical Information

Note: Some of this information was last updated in 1982

See direct evidence (in U.S. law).

(Revised by Ann De Vries)

What is Circumstantial Evidence?

For a meaning of it, read Circumstantial Evidence in the Legal Dictionary here. Browse and search more U.S. and international free legal definitions and legal terms related to Circumstantial Evidence.

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Circumstantial Evidence in the context of Juvenile and Family Law

Definition ofCircumstantial Evidence, published by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges: Evidence of circumstances from which another fact may be inferred. For example, proof that a minor owned a pair of channel-lock pliers may connect the minor to a burglary in which such pliers were used to gain entry.

Circumstantial Evidence