Law Center News

Prof. Shenequa Grey recently published a law review article titled Thirty-Nine Distinctions Between the Louisiana Code of Evidence and the Federal Rules of Evidence in volume 90 of the Tulane Law Review, a national flagship top 50 journal.

 

In the piece, Grey analyzes the differences between the federal and Louisiana rules of evidence. Drafters of the Louisiana Code of Evidence largely modeled it after the Federal Rules of Evidence of 1975. Grey notes that upon first glance, it might appear as though the two sets of rules are substantially identical.  However, upon closer review, she states, there are distinct differences in the rules.  In this work Prof. Grey explains that the Louisiana Code of Evidence contains several provisions that are not included in the Federal Rules, several  of Louisiana’s provisions are more detailed regarding how a rule should be applied, and other provisions reflect a recognition of the greater protections provided to the citizens of the state by the Louisiana Constitution of 1974. She argues that the two sets of rules should not be referred to interchangeably, and great care should be taken in relying upon federal case law to aid the interpretation of Louisiana’s provisions.

 

In deciding to write the article, Grey stated, “I felt that this article would be a great asset to practitioners, judges, professors, and students and I’m happy that the Tulane Law Review editors shared my view.  I think it’s long overdue and I believe it will be cited quit a bit.”

 

Grey is an associate professor of law at the Southern University Law Center. Her research focuses on the law of evidence and constitutional criminal procedure, and is currently working on a student handbook and an interactive animated video series in Louisiana evidence that are both scheduled for release in the fall of 2017. She has given commentary on criminal procedure and evidentiary issues in local and national media, and she is the host of the local weekly television show, The Legal Roundtable. Click here to view her research.