Which statement best describes the general rule for hearsay in court and its exceptions?

• A. Hearsay is generally admissible; exceptions apply.
• B. Hearsay is generally inadmissible; exceptions apply (e.g., excited utterance, present sense impression).
• C. Hearsay is always inadmissible.
• D. Hearsay is admissible only if the person testifies.

Answer: (B)

Hearsay considers out-of-court statements offered to prove the truth of what they assert. The general rule is that these statements are inadmissible because the person who made them isn’t in court to be cross-examined, which could affect reliability. Yet the law recognizes specific exceptions that allow admission when the circumstances indicate reliability despite the out-of-court origin. Examples include excited utterances, where the statement is made under the stress of the event, and present sense impressions, where the description is given as the event unfolds. There are several other recognized exceptions as well. This structure—default exclusion with carve-outs for reliable situations—best captures how hearsay is treated. The other statements misstate the rule by either claiming hearsay is always inadmissible or that it’s admissible only if the declarant testifies, which isn’t how the rules actually operate.