Hearsay Flashcards
What is required to exclude a hearsay statement that doesn’t fall under an exception?
Appropriate objection.
What is the hear say rule?
1) Hearsay is a statement
2) other than the one made by the declarant while testifying at current trial/hearing
3) offered in evidence
4) to prove the truth of the matter assted
What does hearsay rule rationale?
1) The adverse party was denied
2) the opportunity to cross examine the declarant
3) at time statement was made
What is hearsay within hearsay?
1) an out of court statement
2) that incorporates other hear say within it
When is hearsay within hearsay admissible?
When BOTH outer/inner elements of hearsay meet an exception to hearsay rule.
What should you look for with hearsay within hearsay?
1)An out-of-court declarant who repeats
OR
2)Transcribes
3)another person’s statement
What is a statement for purposes of hearsay?
A person’s
1) oral or written assertion
OR
2)nonverbal conduct intended as an assertion (nod of head)
What classes does hear say rule not apply to?
Only people. There is no animal/machine hearsay.
Is this hearsay:
What a radar gun said
What a drug sniffing dog did
No, no.
Can a hear say statement be made in a court room?
Yes, a statement made at a prior trial can be hearsay in a subsequent trial.
When is a statement made in court not hearsay?
When it is offered at current trial.
What are common nontruth of the matter asserted purposes that make things non hearsay?
1) verbal acts
2) legally operative facts (contract words/Defamatory words)
3) Statement made to show effect on listener/reader
4) statements offered as CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE OF DECLARANT’S state of mind
When is a statement made to show effect on listener/reader often used?
To prove notice in a negligence case.
statements offered as CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE OF DECLARANT’S state of mind, which is not hearsay, often used for?
When a party is trying to prove someone’s insanity or knowledge.
What is an example that shows the difference between circumstantial evidence of declarant’s state of mind and statements that reflect DIRECTLY on declarant’s state of mind?
I am Elvis Presley it’s good to be back
vs.
I feel sad.
MBE TIP, when deciding whether is something hearsay, what should you ask?
Are we relying on Declarant’s credibility? Or, does it matter if Declarant is telling the truth?
Generally, what is a witness’s own prior out of court statement?
Hearsay, and inadmissible absent an exception.
If the general rule is that a witness’s own prior out of court statement is hearsay, when does the FRE except these?
1) prior statement is by a testifying witness subject to cross examination and it is one of:
1) identification
2)INconsistent with Declarant’s in court testimony and was given under oath
3) PS is CONSISTENT with Dec’s in court test and is offered to Reuben a charge with is lying/exagerating because of motive
4) PS consistent but offered on some other ground like inconsistency
Is an out of court statement of identification made by a nontestifyinf declarant admissible?
No, it is hearsay unless it falls under an exception
When is an opposing party’s statement not hearsay under FR?
1) When it is made by/attributable to a party
and
2) it is attributable to that party
What does an opposing party statement not have to be to qualify as non-hearsay?
1) against the parties interests
2) From personal knowledge
What are a party’s formal judicial statements?
Conclusive, and can’t be contradicted during trial.
What is a party’s informal judicial statements?
Statements made during:
1) testimony
2) extrajudicial statements
What are a party’s informal judicial statements?
Not conclusive and can be explained.
What are examples of a party’s formal judicial statements?
Pleadings, stipulations etc.
Can a party’s statements change their nature?
Yes, a formal statement in one trial can become an informal judicial statement in another
Pleading guilty to running a red light is formal
What can a party’s silence qualify as?
If silence is towards an accusatory statement, an implied acquiescence to the truth of that statement IF
What requirements need to be met for silence to be an implied acquiescence to the truth of a statement?
1) Party HEARD/UNDERSTOOD the statement
2) Party was capable of denying it physically/mentally
3) A REASONABLE PERSON WOULD HAVE DENIED IT
Who has an insufficent relationship for vicarious statements to become admissible?
Co-parties.
Can a statement by a company’s press agent be admitted against the party
Yes– so long as the press officer is authorized to speak on their behalf