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Hearsay - Law Dictionary Search Results

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hearsay rule

hearsay rule : a rule barring the admission of hearsay as evidence NOTE: The hearsay rule is stated in Rule 802 of the Federal Rules of Evidence. Hearsay is inadmissible as evidence because of the unavailability of cross-examination to test the accuracy of the statement. There are numerous exceptions to the rule, however, mainly for statements made under circumstances that assure reliability. Statements made spontaneously, for example, or as part of a business or medical record are inherently trustworthy and thus excepted from the rule. A statement need not be made orally for purposes of the hearsay rule. Written statements, gestures, and even motion pictures are included. ...


Hearsay evidence

Hearsay evidence. It is a general principle in the law of evidence that if any fact is to be proved against anyone, it ought to be proved in his presence by the testimony of a witness sworn to speak the truth; and the reason of the rule is, that the person who is to be affected by the evidence ought to have an opportunity of interrogating the witness as to his means of knowledge, and concerning all the particulars of his statement. Hearsay evidence (whether spoken or written) of a fact, therefore, is not admissible. And this rule is extended to affidavits, which, except on interlocutory motions, when statements as to belief with the grounds thereof are admissible, must be confined to facts which the deponent can prove of his own knowledge [(English) R.S.C. 1883, Ord. XXXVIII.,r. 3].Among the exceptions to the general rule as to the inadmissibility of hearsay evidence are the follow-ing: (1) dying declarations; (2) hearsay in questions of pedigree; (3) hearsay on questions of public rig...


hearsay

hearsay : a statement made out of court and not under oath which is offered as proof that what is stated is true called also hearsay evidence ...


Hearsay

Hearsay, The word 'hearsay' is used in various senses. Sometimes it means whatever a person is heard to say; sometimes it means whatever a person declares on information given by someone else. (see Stephen on Law of Evidence), J.D. Jain v. Management of State Bank of India, AIR 1982 SC 673 (676): (1982) SCC 143: (1982) 2 SCR 227....


hearsay evidence

hearsay evidence see evidence ...


declaration

declaration 1 : the act of declaring [ of dividends] [ of war] 2 a : the first pleading in a common-law action compare complaint, indictment b : a statement usually not under oath made by a party to a legal transaction [the attorney must later sign an affidavit or stating that he has informed the debtor "J. H. Williamson"] c : a statement not under oath being offered as evidence declaration against interest : a statement made by someone unavailable as a witness that is against that person's own interests (as pecuniary or property interests) or may subject that person to liability compare admission, confession, self-incrimination NOTE: A declaration against interest is an exception to the hearsay rule. A statement that is offered to clear the accused is not admissible without corroborating circumstances under the Federal Rules of Evidence. dy·ing declaration : a statement that is made by a person who firmly believes that he or she is about to die and has no hope of recove...


res gestae

res gestae [Latin, things done, deeds] 1 : the acts, facts, circumstances, statements, or occurrences that form the environment of a main act or event and esp. of a crime and are so closely connected to it that they constitute part of a continuous transaction and can serve to illustrate its character [the decedent's statement…was too far removed in time and place to be admissible as part of the res gestae "Lynch v. State, 552 N.E.2d 56 (1990)"] 2 a : an exception or set of exceptions to the hearsay rule that permits the admission of hearsay evidence regarding excited utterances or declarations relating to mental, emotional, or bodily states or sense impressions of a witness or participant compare dying declaration and spontaneous declaration at declaration, excited utterance NOTE: Res gestae in common law encompassed a variety of different exceptions to the hearsay rule, but most modern rules of evidence (as the Federal Rules of Evidence) have abandoned use of res gestae and...


present sense impression

present sense impression : an out-of-court statement that describes or explains an event or condition and that was made during or immediately after the time the event or condition was perceived ;also : an exception to the hearsay rule allowing such a statement to be entered as evidence that what was asserted in the statement is true NOTE: Present sense impressions are excepted from the hearsay rule because the immediacy of the response is considered to render the statement trustworthy. “Look out, he's got a gun,” might be considered admissible as a present sense impression. ...


state of mind exception

state of mind exception : an exception to the hearsay rule that allows the use of hearsay evidence regarding the state of mind of the declarant (as in a statement of intent or motive) ...


Evidence

Evidence, proof, either written or unwritten, of allegations in issue between parties.Something (including testimony, documents and tangible objects) that tends to prove or disprove the existence of an alleged fact, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th Edn., p. 575.The leading rules of evidence are the following:-(1) The sole object and end of evidence is to ascertain the truth of the several disputed facts or points in issue; and no evidence ought to be admitted which is not relevant to the issues. As to when evidence of collateral facts is admissible, see Hales v. Kerr, (1908) 2 KB 601; Butterley Co. v. New Hucknall Colliery Co., (1909) 1 Ch 37. As to acts showing a continuous course of conduct, see R. v. Mortimer, 25 Cr App Cas 150.(2) The point in issue is to be proved by the party who asserts the affirmative; according to the maxim affirmanti non neganti incumbit probatio. See BURDEN OF PROOF.(3) It will be sufficient to prove the substance of the issue.(4) The best evidence must be given ...


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