# Tenn. R. Evid. 406: Rule 406. Habit; routine practice

> Tennessee · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R406

## Section

- **Citation:** Tenn. R. Evid. 406
- **Heading:** Rule 406. Habit; routine practice
- **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Tennessee Court Rules / Tennessee Rules of Evidence / Tenn. R. Evid. 406

## Text

Article IV. Relevance
Rules of Evidence
(a)
Evidence of the habit of a person, an animal, or of the routine practice of an organization, whether corroborated or not and regardless of the presence of eye-witnesses, is relevant to prove that the conduct of the person, animal, or organization on a particular occasion was in conformity with the habit or routine practice.
(b)
A habit is a regular response to a repeated specific situation. A routine practice is a regular course of conduct of an organization.
Advisory Commission Comments.
Tennessee has long admitted animal habit.
Copley v. State
, 153 Tenn. 189, 281 S.W. 460 (1925), is the leading case. Authorities supporting admissibility of human habit and business custom are collected in Tennessee Law of Evidence § 30.
The second paragraph defines habit and routine practice, emphasizing the need for a "regular response" when a person, animal, or organization is faced with a given situation.

## Nearby sections

- [Tenn. R. Evid. 101 Rule 101. Scope](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R101.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 102 Rule 102. Purpose and Construction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R102.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 103 Rule 103. Rulings on Evidence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R103.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 104 Rule 104. Preliminary questions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R104.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 105 Rule 105. Limited admissibility](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R105.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 106 Rule 106. Writings or recorded statements — Completeness](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R106.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 201 Rule 201. Judicial Notice of Adjudicative Facts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R201.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 202 Rule 202. Judicial notice of law](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R202.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 301 Rule 301. Reserved](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R301.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 401 Rule 401. Definition of "relevant evidence."](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R401.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 402 Rule 402. Relevant evidence generally admissible; irrelevant evidence inadmissible](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R402.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 403 Rule 403. Exclusion of relevant evidence on grounds of prejudice, confusion, or waste of time](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R403.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 404 Rule 404. Character Evidence Not Admissible to Prove Conduct; Exceptions; Other Crimes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R404.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 405 Rule 405. Methods of Proving Character](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R405.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R406. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.