# Me. R. Evid. 303: Rule 303. PRESUMPTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES

> Maine · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R303

## Section

- **Citation:** Me. R. Evid. 303
- **Heading:** Rule 303. PRESUMPTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES
- **Jurisdiction:** Maine
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Maine Rules of Court / Maine Rules of Evidence / Me. R. Evid. 303

## Text

(a)
Scope. This rule governs the application of statutory and common law
presumptions, including statutory provisions that certain facts are
prima facie evidence of other facts or of guilt in criminal cases.
(b)
Submission to jury. The court may not direct a verdict against an
accused based on a presumption or statutory provisions that certain
facts are prima facie evidence of other facts or of guilt. The court may

permit a jury to infer guilt or a fact relevant to guilt based on a statutory
or common law presumption or prima facie evidence, if the evidence as
a whole supports guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
(c)
Instructing the jury. Whenever the existence of a presumed fact
against the accused is submitted to the jury, the court in instructing the
jury should avoid charging in terms of a presumption. The charge must
include an instruction that the jurors may draw reasonable inferences
from facts proved beyond a reasonable doubt and may convict the
accused in reliance upon an inference of fact if they conclude that such
inference is valid and if the inference convinces them of guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt and not otherwise.

Maine Restyling Note [November 2014]

The Federal Rules of Evidence do not deal with presumptions in the
context of criminal cases. The Maine Rule has been restyled in accordance
with the federal restyling format.
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## Nearby sections

- [Me. R. Evid. 101 Rule 101. APPLICABILITY; DEFINITIONS; TITLE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R101.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 102 Rule 102. PURPOSE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R102.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 103 Rule 103. RULINGS ON EVIDENCE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R103.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 104 Rule 104. PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R104.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 105 Rule 105. LIMITING EVIDENCE THAT IS NOT ADMISSIBLE AGAINST](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R105.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 106 Rule 106. REMAINDER OF OR RELATED WRITINGS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R106.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 201 Rule 201. JUDICIAL NOTICE OF ADJUDICATIVE FACTS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R201.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 301 Rule 301. PRESUMPTIONS IN CIVIL CASES GENERALLY](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R301.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 302 Rule 302. PRESUMPTION OF LEGITIMACY](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R302.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 303 Rule 303. PRESUMPTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R303.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 401 Rule 401. TEST FOR RELEVANT EVIDENCE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R401.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 402 Rule 402. GENERAL ADMISSIBILITY OF RELEVANT EVIDENCE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R402.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 403 Rule 403. EXCLUDING RELEVANT EVIDENCE FOR PREJUDICE,](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R403.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 404 Rule 404. CHARACTER EVIDENCE; CRIMES OR OTHER ACTS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R404.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R303. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.