Invited by China Collaborative Innovation Center of Judicial Civilization and Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, Professor Edward Imwinkelried from University of California, Davis successfully gave a short course on topic of “U.S Trial Procedure and Evidence law” for CUPL graduate students from March 16th to March 27th, 2015. As the former chair of the Evidence Section of Association of American Law Schools, Professor Imwinkelried is the one of the authorities on US Evidence Law.

This short course lasted for two weeks. In these ten days, Professor Imwinkelried mainly focused on the following topics:

• Strategic Litigation Planning: The Choice of Theory and Theme;
• Jury Selection---The Strategy of Jury Selection;
• Opening Statement;
• Evidentiary Objections;
• The Microcosm of Direct Examination;
• The Microcosm of Cross-Examination;
• Organizing the Case-In-Chief;
• Using the Opposing Witnesses to Support Your Theory and Theme;
• Closing Argument;
• Trial Motions.

Based on these topics, Professor Imwinkelried had shown a very good overview of the U.S. evidence rules and the basis for trial procedure. He not only gave a summary of Federal Rules of Evidence, but also pointed out the practical problems in the application of these rules. It is precious for students to access to these valuable trial skills and his vivid analyzing the US Evidence Law helped students have better understanding of the US legal system.

Additionally, Professor Imwinkelried signed a renewal cooperation agreement with Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, CUPL. It is foreseeable that Professor Imwinkelried will be back again with interesting lectures for CUPL students.