Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: Past Recollection Recorded
Definition: When someone has trouble remembering something that happened in the past, they can read something they wrote down at the time to help them remember. This is allowed in court if the person who wrote it can say that it was accurate and they made it when the event was still fresh in their memory.
Past Recollection Recorded
Past Recollection Recorded is a rule in the Federal Rules of Evidence that allows a witness to read a written statement to the jury if certain conditions are met. These conditions include:
An example of Past Recollection Recorded could be a witness who wrote down the license plate number of a car involved in a hit-and-run accident. If the witness forgets the license plate number but has the written statement they made shortly after the accident, they could read that statement to the jury.
Another example could be a witness who wrote down the details of a conversation they had with someone who is no longer available to testify. If the witness forgets the details of the conversation but has the written statement they made shortly after the conversation, they could read that statement to the jury.
These examples illustrate how Past Recollection Recorded allows a witness to use a written statement to help them remember important details about an event. This can be helpful in cases where a witness's memory has faded over time or where the witness is unable to testify in person.