Hearsay Flashcards
Hearsay - Elements (3)
- Statement - oral/written or non verbal conduct with intention
- Made by declarant outside of trial or hearing proceeding
- To prove the truth of the matter asserted
Hearsay - Gral Rule as E
EXCLUDED unless allowed by rule
Hearsay - Typical examples of NOT HEARSAY bc they are not offered to prove the truth of the matter (3)
- Statements of independent legal effect despite of their truhtness or falsity. i.e. “Ill give you my apple stocks”
- Statements offered to prove a statement was made as notice (“these steps are loose”) or reason for duress (“sign this or ill break your knees”) or other injury such as defamation (“Juan is a communist”)
- Statement offered to show declarant perception when such perception is relevant for case (i.e. for self defense. “B told me that A wanted to kill me”. Enough to generate fear of inminent harm despite of truthness or falsity of original statement)
Hearsay - Conduct as Assertion Rule
As testimony on conduct that happen out of court
- Condcut allows for inference
- I_F it was intended to assert a statement then it willbe hearsay_
i. e. To establish that iwas raining on X day, investigator asks declarant if people were walking with umbrellas that day, he said yes, hence he infers that he had knowledgeof the rain.
Hearsay - Silence as an assertion
Rules for adoptive admission appliy - hnece it can be not-hearsay despite definition
Hearsay - Examples of not hearsay despite meeting criteria - FRE 801d) (2) Main criterias
- Prior statement by witness
- Opposing party statement: a) by own party, b) adoptive statement, c) by auhtorized person, d) by agent, and e) by co-conspirator
Hearsay - Examples of not hearsay despite meeting criteria - Prior Statement by W (under oath) / gral reqs
- Made under oath at trial or hearing
- Subject to cross examination
- Admissible unless credibility of W is attacked
Hearsay - Examples of not hearsay despite meeting criteria - Prior Statement by W (under oath) / (3) types
Can be:
- Inconsistent with current testimony by W
- Consistent: made before recent lie, improper inflience, bribe - (can be used to bolster confidentiality)
- ID of person: i.e. police line
Hearsay - Examples of not hearsay despite meeting criteria - Opposing Party Statement - Own Statement /type and in what capacity
- Can be either statement or assertive conduct
- Either personally or in representative capacity (i.e. corporate officer)
Hearsay - Examples of not hearsay despite meeting criteria - Opposing Party Statement - Adoptive Statement / concept
- Statement adopted by party as his own or that believes to be true
Hearsay - Examples of not hearsay despite meeting criteria - Opposing Party Statement - Adoptive Statement / Admissible criteria (3)
- Statement was heard and understood
- Reasonable person would deny it if it wasnt true given its nature
- No response by party being capable of so - silence as assertion
Hearsay - Examples of not hearsay despite meeting criteria - Opposing Party Statement - Authorized
By auhtorized person by the party
- i.e. spokesperson
Hearsay - Examples of not hearsay despite meeting criteria - Opposing Party Statement - By Agent / 3 reqs
- By agent or employee
- Acting within scope of agency
- During the time of agency
Hearsay - Examples of not hearsay despite meeting criteria - Opposing Party Statement - Co-conspirator /Reqs + i.e.
- During or in furtherance of conspiracy
- i.e. A and B conspite to import drugs, A tells C that he and B will transact with B regarding drugs. A testiomny could be used against B.
Hearsay - Exceptions - Classifications (4)
- Admissible statements that meet PETSRR requirements of accuracy (independent of presence of declarant)
- Availability of declarant immaterial
- Declarant unavailable
- Residual exception for trustworthy statements (rarely tested)
Hearsay - Exceptions - Admissible Statements FRE 803 - Gral
- For both civil and criminal
- Statements most likely accurate
- Declarant can be present or absent (except for reading of recorded recollection)
Hearsay - Exceptions - Admissible Statements FRE 803 - Statements about PETSRR
- Present Sense Impression
- Excited Uterance
- Then existing mental/emotiona/physical condition
- Statement made for medical treatment
- Reading of recorded recollection
- Records of regularly conducted activity - “Business Record Exception”
Hearsay - Exceptions - Admissible Statements FRE- Statements about PETSRR - Present Sense Impresion /what, when
- Spontaneous describing statement
- “Contemporaneous” - During or inmediatly after happening of event
- i.e. 911 call
Hearsay - Exceptions - Admissible Statements FRE- Statements about PETSRR - Excited Uterance /what, when
- Statement related w/event or conduct
- Made under stress or excitement caused by event
- No necessary inmediacy
- i.e. isterical description of car accident