Rape shield law

A rape shield law is a law that limits the ability to introduce evidence about the past sexual activity of a complainant in a sexual assault trial, or that limits cross-examination of complainants about their past sexual behaviour in sexual assault cases. The term also refers to a law that prohibits the publication of the identity of a complainant in a sexual assault case.

Canadian judge Claire L'Heureux-Dubé wrote that the purpose of these laws went beyond "shield[ing] a complainant from the rigours of cross-examination at trial", and characterized the term rape shield as an "inaccurate shorthand".