Legal Definitions - notice-of-alibi rule

The notice-of-alibi rule is a legal principle that requires a criminal defendant to provide written notice to the government if they intend to call an alibi witness at trial. The notice must include the name of the witness and where the defendant claims to have been at the time of the alleged offense.

In response, the government is required to give notice to the defendant of any witness they intend to call to rebut the alibi testimony. This rule is outlined in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, specifically Rule 12.1.

For example, if a defendant is accused of committing a robbery at a convenience store at 9:00 PM on a Saturday night, and the defendant claims to have been at a friend's house at that time, they must provide written notice to the government of the alibi witness and the friend's address. The government, in turn, must provide notice to the defendant if they plan to call any witnesses to dispute the alibi.

This rule is in place to ensure that both the defendant and the government have a fair opportunity to prepare their cases and present evidence at trial. It helps prevent surprises and ensures that all parties have a chance to review and investigate the evidence before trial.