Which statement about hearsay as an exception to admissibility is true?

• A. Hearsay is never admissible.
• B. Hearsay is always admissible.
• C. Hearsay can be admissible in some circumstances as an exception.
• D. Hearsay is not admissible in civil proceedings.

Answer: (C)

Hearsay isn’t automatically kept out of or admitted in every case; it’s about whether a statement falls into a recognized exception that makes it admissible. Hearsay refers to a statement made outside the current proceeding that’s offered to prove the truth of what it asserts, and normally it’s excluded because the speaker isn’t present for cross-examination. But the law creates specific exceptions where such statements are deemed reliable enough to admit, like certain business records, statements against the declarant’s own interest, or spontaneous/excited utterances. These exceptions can apply in civil proceedings as well, so hearsay can be admissible in some circumstances. The other statements would incorrectly blanket either exclude hearsay entirely or say it’s always admissible, which isn’t correct.