diff --git a/docs/architecture/README.MD b/docs/architecture/README.MD
index d60980478..99d8204b2 100644
--- a/docs/architecture/README.MD
+++ b/docs/architecture/README.MD
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ Please add a entry below in your Pull Request for an ADR.
 
 - [ADR 002: SDK Documentation Structure](./adr-002-docs-structure.md)
 - [ADR 006: Secret Store Replacement](./adr-006-secret-store-replacement.md)
+- [ADR 009: Evidence Module](./adr-009-evidence-module.md)
 - [ADR 010: Modular AnteHandler](./adr-010-modular-antehandler.md)
 - [ADR 011: Generalize Genesis Accounts](./adr-011-generalize-genesis-accounts.md)
 - [ADR 012: State Accessors](./adr-012-state-accessors.md)
diff --git a/docs/architecture/adr-009-evidence-module.md b/docs/architecture/adr-009-evidence-module.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ac73d60a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/architecture/adr-009-evidence-module.md
@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+# ADR 009: Evidence Module
+
+## Changelog
+
+- 2019 July 31: Initial draft
+
+## Status
+
+Proposed
+
+## Context
+
+In order to support building highly secure, robust and interoperable blockchain
+applications, it is vital for the Cosmos SDK to expose a mechanism in which arbitrary
+evidence can be submitted, evaluated and verified resulting in some agreed upon
+penalty for any misbehavior committed by a validator, such as equivocation (double-voting),
+signing when unbonded, signing an incorrect state transition (in the future), etc.
+Furthermore, such a mechanism is paramount for any
+[IBC](https://github.com/cosmos/ics/blob/master/ibc/1_IBC_ARCHITECTURE.md) or
+cross-chain validation protocol implementation in order to support the ability
+for any misbehavior to be relayed back from a collateralized chain to a primary
+chain so that the equivocating validator(s) can be slashed.
+
+## Decision
+
+We will implement an evidence module in the Cosmos SDK supporting the following
+functionality:
+
+- Provide developers with the abstractions and interfaces necessary to define
+custom evidence messages, message handlers, and methods to slash and penalize
+accordingly for misbehavior.
+- Support the ability to route evidence messages to handlers in any module to
+determine the validity of submitted misbehavior.
+- Support the ability, through governance, to modify slashing penalties of any
+evidence type.
+- Querier implementation to support querying params, evidence types, params, and
+all submitted valid misbehavior.
+
+### Types
+
+First, we define the `Evidence` interface type. The `x/evidence` module may implement
+its own types that can be used by many chains (e.g. `CounterFactualEvidence`).
+In addition, other modules may implement their own `Evidence` types in a similar
+manner in which governance is extensible. It is important to note any concrete
+type implementing the `Evidence` interface may include arbitrary fields such as
+an infraction time. We want the `Evidence` type to remain as flexible as possible.
+
+When submitting evidence to the `x/evidence` module, the concrete type must provide
+the validator's consensus address, which should be known by the `x/slashing`
+module (assuming the infraction is valid), the height at which the infraction
+occurred and the validator's power at same height in which the infraction occurred.
+
+```go
+type Evidence interface {
+  Route() string
+  Type() string
+  String() string
+  ValidateBasic() Error
+
+  // The consensus address of the malicious validator at time of infraction
+  GetConsensusAddress() ConsAddress
+
+  // Height at which the infraction occurred
+  GetHeight() int64
+
+  // The total power of the malicious validator at time of infraction
+  GetValidatorPower() int64
+
+  // The total validator set power at time of infraction
+  GetTotalPower() int64
+}
+```
+
+### Routing & Handling
+
+Each `Evidence` type must map to a specific unique route and be registered with
+the `x/evidence` module. It accomplishes this through the `Router` implementation.
+
+```go
+type Router interface {
+  AddRoute(r string, h Handler)
+  HasRoute(r string) bool
+  GetRoute(path string) Handler
+  Seal()
+}
+```
+
+Upon successful routing through the `x/evidence` module, the `Evidence` type
+is passed through a `Handler`. This `Handler` is responsible for executing all
+corresponding business logic necessary for verifying the evidence as valid. In
+addition, the `Handler` may execute any necessary slashing and potential jailing.
+Since slashing fractions will typically result from some form of static functions,
+allow the `Handler` to do this provides the greatest flexibility. An example could
+be `k * evidence.GetValidatorPower()` where `k` is an on-chain parameter controlled
+by governance. The `Evidence` type should provide all the external information
+necessary in order for the `Handler` to make the necessary state transitions.
+If no error is returned, the `Evidence` is considered valid.
+
+```go
+type Handler func(Context, Evidence) Error
+```
+
+### Submission
+
+`Evidence` is submitted through a `MsgSubmitEvidence` message type which is internally
+handled by the `x/evidence` module's `SubmitEvidence`.
+
+```go
+type MsgSubmitEvidence struct {
+  Evidence
+}
+
+func handleMsgSubmitEvidence(ctx Context, keeper Keeper, msg MsgSubmitEvidence) Result {
+  if err := keeper.SubmitEvidence(ctx, msg.Evidence); err != nil {
+    return err.Result()
+  }
+
+  // emit events...
+
+  return Result{
+    // ...
+  }
+}
+```
+
+The `x/evidence` module's keeper is responsible for matching the `Evidence` against
+the module's router and invoking the corresponding `Handler` which may include
+slashing and jailing the validator. Upon success, the submitted evidence is persisted.
+
+```go
+func (k Keeper) SubmitEvidence(ctx Context, evidence Evidence) Error {
+  handler := keeper.router.GetRoute(evidence.Route())
+  if err := handler(ctx, evidence); err != nil {
+    return ErrInvalidEvidence(keeper.codespace, err)
+  }
+
+  keeper.setEvidence(ctx, evidence)
+  return nil
+}
+```
+
+### Genesis
+
+Finally, we need to represent the genesis state of the `x/evidence` module. The
+module only needs a list of all submitted valid infractions and any necessary params
+for which the module needs in order to handle submitted evidence. The `x/evidence`
+module will naturally define and route native evidence types for which it'll most
+likely need slashing penalty constants for.
+
+```go
+type GenesisState struct {
+  Params       Params
+  Infractions  []Evidence
+}
+```
+
+## Consequences
+
+### Positive
+
+- Allows the state machine to process misbehavior submitted on-chain and penalize
+validators based on agreed upon slashing parameters.
+- Allows evidence types to be defined and handled by any module. This further allows
+slashing and jailing to be defined by more complex mechanisms.
+- Does not solely rely on Tendermint to submit evidence.
+
+### Negative
+
+- No easy way to introduce new evidence types through governance on a live chain
+due to the inability to introduce the new evidence type's corresponding handler
+
+### Neutral
+
+- Should we persist infractions indefinitely? Or should we rather rely on events?
+
+## References
+
+- [ICS](https://github.com/cosmos/ics)
+- [IBC Architecture](https://github.com/cosmos/ics/blob/master/ibc/1_IBC_ARCHITECTURE.md)