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HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS THAT ARE LESS RELIABLE: RULE 804: DECLARATIONS BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOW UNAVAILABLE Prof. Janicke 2011
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2 THOUGHT TO BE WEAKER RULES DRAFTERS (AND COMMON LAW) DEVELOPED A SET OF HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS THAT COULD BE USED ONLY WHEN THE DECLARANT IS UNAVAILABLE AT TRIAL A COMPROMISE BETWEEN OUTRIGHT EXCLUSION AND OUTRIGHT ADMISSIBILITY
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20113 MEANING OF “UNAVAILABLE” WITHOUT ANY CONNIVANCE BY PROPONENT, DECLARANT IS: –NOT FINDABLE –REFUSES TO ATTEND –REFUSES TO ANSWER EVEN WHEN DIRECTED BY COURT –HAS A LOSS OF MEMORY –IS DEAD –IS INCAPACITATED MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY
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20114 FORMER TESTIMONY AT A HEARING OR DEPOSITION IN THIS OR ANOTHER CASE NOW-OPPONENT MUST HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITY AND MOTIVE TO CROSS-EXAMINE –DIRECTLY, or –THROUGH A PARTY WITH SIMILAR INTEREST (CIVIL CASES ONLY)
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20115 SOME THINGS THAT WON’T QUALIFY AFFIDAVITS [NOT A HEARING OR DEPOSITION; NO CHANCE TO CROSS- EXAMINE] GRAND JURY TESTIMONY [NO CHANCE TO CROSS-EXAMINE]
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20116 SOME THINGS THAT WILL QUALIFY NON-PARTY TESTIMONY AT EARLIER TRIAL OF THIS CASE NON-PARTY TESTIMONY AT A DEPOSITION IN THIS OR ANOTHER CASE (WHERE OPPONENT WAS PARTY) NON-PARTY TESTIMONY AT A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION HEARING IN THIS CASE
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20117 NOTE – A PARTY’S TESTIMONY DOESN’T NEED THIS EXCEPTION –IF OFFERED BY THE ADVERSE PARTY, CAN BE OFFERED FREELY, REGARDLESS OF PRIOR OATH OR CROSS-EXAM –IF IT IS HER OWN FORMER TESTIMONY, THE PROPONENT PARTY IS “AVAILABLE” -- CAN TESTIFY LIVE AGAIN
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20118 DYING DECLARATIONS BASIS: NO ONE WOULD FALSIFY WHILE SOON TO MEET HIS MAKER REQUIREMENTS: –HOMICIDE OR CIVIL CASE –DECLARANT THOUGHT HE WAS DYING IMMINENTLY (NOT “GOING TO BE SHOT” SOME VAGUE FUTURE TIME) –STATEMENT WAS RE. CAUSE OF THE IMPENDING DEATH (i.e., WHODUNIT)
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20119 VICTIM’S RECOVERY DOESN’T MAKE A DYING DECLARATION INADMISSIBLE BUT THE VICTIM-DECLARANT HAS TO BE “UNAVAILABLE” AT TRIAL
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201110 EXAMPLE IN A HOMICIDE CASE: “JACK DID IT!!” IN A WRONGFUL DEATH ACTION: “BOB SHOT ME IN SELF-DEFENSE” IN A WRONGFUL DEATH ACTION: “I NEVER SHOULD HAVE EATEN THOSE OYSTERS”
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201111 THIRD PARTY ADMISSIONS STATEMENT THAT WAS AGAINST INTEREST –PECUNIARY –PENAL MADE BY A NON-PARTY MOST ARE OFFERED BY DEFENDANTS, CIVIL AND CRIMINAL, THROUGH WITNESSES –OFFERED TO DEFLECT BLAME
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201112 EXAMPLES OF NON-PARTY ADMISSIONS OFFERED BY D, THROUGH WITNESSES: TESTIMONY: “NONPARTY X SAID: ‘OUR TECHNICIAN WIRED IT WRONG’” NONPARTY X CO’S DOCUMENT RECALLING X’S AUTOS FOR DEFECTIVE FUEL LINES TESTIMONY: “NONPARTY X SAID: ‘SORRY WE BLEW UP YOUR HOUSE’”
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201113 RESTRICTION ON NON- PARTY ADMISSIONS WHEN OFFERED TO EXCULPATE A CRIMINAL ACCUSED: –MUST HAVE CORROBORATING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT “CLEARLY INDICATE ITS TRUSTWORTHINESS” –MOST CASES HOLD THEM INADMISSIBLE BASED ON A GENERAL MISTRUST OF THE CRIMINAL COMMUNITY
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201114 OUT OF COURT STATEMENT RE. FAMILY HISTORY EXAMPLE: TESTIMONY THAT “MY MOTHER TOLD ME I WAS HARRY’S SON” EXAMPLE: TESTIMONY THAT “HIS FATHER TOLD ME HE WAS BORN IN THE NAVAL HOSPITAL AT NEWPORT” NOTE: RECALL THAT DECLARANT (MOTHER, FATHER) MUST BE UNAVAILABLE
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201115 DECLARATIONS BY PERSONS WHO HAVE SINCE BEEN “RUBBED OUT” IF THE REMOVER IS A PARTY, THESE ARE NOW ADMISSIBLE AGAINST HIM EXAMPLES: –EARLIER AFFIDAVIT –EARLIER GRAND JURY TESTIMONY –EARLIER ORAL REMARK –EARLIER LETTER
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201116 DECLARANTS ARE IMPEACHABLE THEY ARE TREATED JUST LIKE WITNESSES TO PREVENT ABUSIVE USE OF EXCEPTIONS SAME RULES OF IMPEACHMENT
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201117 THE “CATCHALL”: RULE 807 FOR THE “ALMOST” SITUATIONS FOR THE UNPREPARED LAWYER WHO DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO REFUTE A HEARSAY OBJECTION FOR THE JUDGE WHO WANTS TO BE BULLETPROOF ON APPEAL
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201118 REQUIREMENTS: EVIDENCE OF A “MATERIAL FACT” –??? MORE PROBATIVE THAN ANYTHING ELSE REASONABLY AVAILABLE –A HAVEN FOR THE UNPREPARED IN THE INTERESTS OF JUSTICE ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIRED
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201119 COURT EFFECTIVELY REWRITES THE HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS USUALLY SEEN IN CIVIL CASES
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201120 A PROBLEM WITH SIXTH AMENDMENT CONFRONTATION CLAUSE, WHEN HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS ARE USED BY PROSECUTORS CRAWFORD v. WASHINGTON –“TESTIMONIAL” TYPE HEARSAY MUST BE KEPT OUT OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS, DESPITE RULES 803, 804
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