Formal legal truth and substantive truth in judicial fact-finding - Their justified divergence in some particular cases

Truth is a fundamental objective of adjudicative processes; ideally, 'subst antive' as distinct from 'formal legal' truth. But problems of evidence, fo r example, may frustrate finding of substantive truth; other values may lea d to exclusions of probative evidence, e.g., for the sake of fairness. 'Jur y nullification' and 'jury equity'. Limits of time, and definitiveness of d ecision, require allocation of burden of proof. Degree of truth-formality i s variable within a system and across systems.