Hearsay
Definition of Hearsay
Note: See a more comprehensive approach to the Hearsay legal concept in the American Law Encyclopedia
A statement by a witness repeating the words of another person rather than testifying on the basis of direct knowledge. Hearsay testimony is not based on what a witness sees, hears, or otherwise senses himself or herself. Rather, hearsay repeats what someone else saw or heard. If someone testified that “my supervisor told me that she saw John Doe leave work early,” that would be an example of hearsay. Hearsay is indirect evidence and, as a result, is generally inadmissible as a matter of evidentiary rule in courts. The reason for the hearsay rule is that such testimony cannot be subjected to such tests of truthfulness and reliability as cross-examination.
See Also
cross- examination, 136; rules of evidence, 183.
Resources
Hearsay Related Resources
- Hearsay in the United States Legal Encyclopedia
- Criminal Judicial Process Keywords in the United States Legal Encyclopedia
- Criminal Process Keywords in the International Legal Dictionary
Notes
- “Hearsay”, The American Law Dictionary, 1991, California
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