hearsay evidence

Hearsay evidence is information someone shares about what another person said outside of court, which is presented as proof of the truth of that statement. For example, if witness A says, “I heard witness B say X,” and that statement is used to establish X, it is hearsay. Courts generally exclude hearsay because the original speaker isn’t available for cross-examination, making the evidence less reliable. However, there are exceptions where hearsay may be admitted if it meets certain legal criteria, ensuring fairness in the trial process.