Rule 804

Rule 804 refers to exceptions in the law of hearsay evidence, which typically prevents someone’s out-of-court statements from being used in court to prove what they said. Under Rule 804, if the person who made the statement is unavailable to testify—due to reasons like death, illness, or absence—the statement can often be admitted as evidence if it falls into specific categories, such as statements made before an event (like a threat or a belief) or certain statements made in a previous legal proceeding. This rule balances fairness by allowing relevant out-of-court statements when the witness cannot testify directly.