Hearsay Flashcards
What is hearsay
Hearsay is a statement by a human declarant, other than one made while testifying at trial, offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted
Can statements be made by non-humans?
No
What are types of statements?
- Intentional oral or written assetsion
- Intentionally asservice conduct
What is assertive conduct
Conduct intended to communicate as a substitute for words, including pointing fingers to give directions, shaking one’s head yes or no, sketch by a police artist
What is non-assertive conduct
Conduct not intended as a statement and not intended to communicate, including videotapes showing witnesses doing things, documenting their demeanor, etc.
Is non-assertive conduct hearsay?
No
What types of statements are non-hearsay based on not being offered for their truth?
- statements of capacity
- effect on the listening (e.g. motive, intent, actions)
- legally operative facts
- verbal acts
- impeachment
- state of mind
What are hearsay exemptions
- Statement by a party opponent
- Prior inconsistent statement
- Prior Consistent Statement
- Statement of Prior Identification
What types of statements may be deemed statements by a party opponent
- statements by a named party
- Adoptive admissions
- Authorized admissions
- Employee admissions
- Co-conspirator’s statements
What are statements by a named party
A statement of a party offered against them by their opponent - must have been said by the declarant and is being used against the declarant
What type of statement by a named party opponent qualifies as non-hearsay?
Statements of fact or opinion
Do statements by named party opponents have to be against that party’s interest?
No
Is personal knowledge required by named party opponent regarding their statement for it to be non-hearsay?
No, personal knowledge is not required so long as the statement is said by the declarant and used against the declarant
What is required for a statement to be an adoptive admission by a party opponent.
There must be sufficient evidence to show that the party heard and understood the statement and adopted it as their own
What is an authorized admission by a party opponent
A statement by a party’s agent (express or implied) or representative
How can an admission be adopted by a party opponent?
The statement can be adopted by words, conduct or silence
What is an employee admission
A statement of a party’s employee offered against the party
What is required for an employee admission to be considered non-hearsay?
The statement must
1. be made during the existence of the employment relationship
2. concern a matter within the scope of employment
When are co-conspirator’s statements non-hearsay?
Statements of co-conspirators, whether or not a conspiracy is character, can be used against all other co-conspirators
What are requirements for a declarant’s statement to be considered a co-conspirator statement?
- declarant was a member of the conspiracy
2 the statement was made in furtherance of the conspiracy - the statement was made during the existence of the conspiracy
What is required for all types of prior statements to be admissible as non-hearsay?
- the declarant must testify at the trial or hearing
- the declarant must be subject to cross-examination concerning the prior statement
- the statements must be either prior inconsistent statement offered for its truth, prior consistent statement or a statement of prior identification
When is a prior inconsistent statement non-hearsay
A prior inconsistent statement is permitted to be offered for its truth if it is “sworn” subject to the penalty of perjury under oath at a trial, deposition or other proceeding
When is a prior consistent statement admissible as non-hearsay?
Once a witness has been impeached, a prior consistent statement is a hearsay exemption and is admissible as substantive evidence
When is a statement of prior identification admissible?
An out-of-court statement of identification by a declarant after perceiving the identified person is admissible as substantive evidence
What are hearsay exceptions that don’t require the declarant to be unavailable?
- Present sense impression
- Excited Utterance
- then-existing mental, physical, or emotional condition
- statement for purposes of medical diagnosis or treatment
- past recollection recorded
- records of regularly conducted activity (business records exception)
- public records and reports
- statements in ancient documents
- learned treatises