Hearsay
(Redirected from Hear say)
Hearsay is a statement made outside of court that is offered in court as evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Hearsay is generally inadmissible as evidence in court proceedings due to its lack of reliability, as the original speaker is not present to be cross-examined. However, there are numerous exceptions to the hearsay rule.
Definition[edit | edit source]
Hearsay is defined as an out-of-court statement introduced to prove the truth of the matter asserted. The statement can be oral, written, or nonverbal conduct intended as an assertion.
Hearsay Rule[edit | edit source]
The hearsay rule is a fundamental principle in the law of evidence that prohibits the use of hearsay evidence in court. The rationale behind the rule is that hearsay statements are not subject to cross-examination, which is a critical mechanism for testing the reliability and credibility of evidence.
Exceptions to the Hearsay Rule[edit | edit source]
There are several exceptions to the hearsay rule, which allow certain out-of-court statements to be admitted as evidence. Some of the most common exceptions include:
- Present sense impression
- Excited utterance
- Statements against interest
- Dying declaration
- Business records exception
- Public records exception
Hearsay in Different Legal Systems[edit | edit source]
The treatment of hearsay evidence varies across different legal systems. In the United States, the Federal Rules of Evidence provide a detailed framework for the admissibility of hearsay and its exceptions. In contrast, the United Kingdom has its own set of rules and exceptions under the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
Related Concepts[edit | edit source]
See Also[edit | edit source]
- Law of evidence
- Federal Rules of Evidence
- Criminal Justice Act 2003
- Direct evidence
- Circumstantial evidence
References[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD