Call Number:

ALI.04.010

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library

Extent:

2.25 linear feet

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of item], in the Model Code of Evidence Records, American Law Institute Archives, ALI.04.010, Biddle Law Library, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, PA.

Date:

1939-1954 (inclusive)

Creator:

American Law Institute

Abstract:

In the course of establishing what would become the First Restatement of the Law, the American Law Institute (ALI) considered including a clarification of the Law of Evidence. However, due to perceived deficiencies in the law, the American Law Institute resolved to begin a project that would provide a thorough reworking of the existing law of evidence. In 1939, the ALI secured funding to develop such a project. Edmund M. Morgan served as Reporter, and John H. Wigmore served as Chief Consultant. The resulting body of law was the Model Code of Evidence, adopted by the ALI in May 1942. The collection, 1939-1954, includes correspondence, meeting minutes, drafts, memoranda, commentary, outside publications, and related material concerning the drafting and adoption of the Model Code of Evidence, an effort to standardize common-law evidence rules.

In the course of establishing what would become the First Restatement of the Law, the American Law Institute (ALI) considered including a clarification of the Law of Evidence. However, due to perceived deficiencies in the law, the American Law Institute resolved to begin a project that would provide a thorough reworking of the existing law of evidence. In 1939, the ALI secured funding to develop such a project. Edmund M. Morgan served as Reporter, and John H. Wigmore served as Chief Consultant. The resulting body of law was the Model Code of Evidence, adopted by the ALI in May 1942.

The Model Code of Evidence Records, 1939-1954, include correspondence, meeting minutes, drafts, memoranda, comments, student editions, outside publications, and related records concerning the drafting and adoption of the Model Code of Evidence, an effort to standardize common-lawevidence rules.

The Correspondence series includes among William Draper Lewis, Herbert F. Goodrich, and other parties concerning the drafting of the Model Code of Evidence.

The Meeting Records series primarily includes minutes of meetings of the Code of Evidence Conference.

The Committee on Evidence series primarily includes correspondence among members of the Committee on Evidence, the main group involved in the drafting of the Code of Evidence. This series also includes materials related to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Law's Uniform Rules of Evidence.

The Drafts series includes drafts created by the committee that created the Model Code of Evidence. This series also includes some comments by Chief Consultant John H. Wigmore, whose commentary on drafts was sometimes adopted as an official draft document by the committee.

The Comments and Memoranda series includes comments and memoranda submitted by individuals who served as consultants to Model Code of Evidence Project, as well as organizations and other people interested in the project. Some of John H. Wigmore's comments were officially adopted as draft documents by the Committee on Evidence, and can therefore be found in the Drafts series.