Which statement best describes the Captains' Meeting notice requirement for admitting evidence of a defendant's trait?

Which statement best describes the Captains' Meeting notice requirement for admitting evidence of a defendant's trait?

• A. No notice is required for such evidence.
• B. The defendant must notify the court and opposing counsel in writing at the Captains' Meeting; the required form must be completed and presented to the judges with ballots.
• C. The prosecutor must prepare a written motion.
• D. The judge will decide absence of notice.

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is that admitting evidence about a defendant’s trait is handled with a formal notice process at the Captains’ Meeting. The rule requires the defendant to file a written notice in advance, to both the court and opposing counsel, using the designated form, and to present that form to the judges along with ballots. This setup gives everyone time to review the proposed trait evidence, anticipate any objections, and plan appropriate remedies or limits. It also creates a clear, on-the-record procedure for admissibility decisions, rather than leaving such notices to be raised piecemeal during trial. The other options miss this essential step: there is a written notice requirement, it’s the defendant who prepares and submits the notice (not the prosecutor), and the process isn’t simply left to the judge to decide whether notice occurred without the formal filing.

The key idea here is that admitting evidence about a defendant’s trait is handled with a formal notice process at the Captains’ Meeting. The rule requires the defendant to file a written notice in advance, to both the court and opposing counsel, using the designated form, and to present that form to the judges along with ballots. This setup gives everyone time to review the proposed trait evidence, anticipate any objections, and plan appropriate remedies or limits. It also creates a clear, on-the-record procedure for admissibility decisions, rather than leaving such notices to be raised piecemeal during trial. The other options miss this essential step: there is a written notice requirement, it’s the defendant who prepares and submits the notice (not the prosecutor), and the process isn’t simply left to the judge to decide whether notice occurred without the formal filing.