Hearsay Exceptions

Hearsay is where a witness attempts to introduce as evidence an out-of-court statement by a third party where that party is not available for cross-examination. Because this kind of evidence is considered unreliable, generally, hearsay is inadmissible in court unless it meets one of the exceptions to the hearsay rule. Under the Federal Rules of Evidence there are some twenty-four exceptions to the rule. In state courts similar rules apply.