Rule 802 The Rule Against Hearsay

Hearsay is when someone repeats a statement that was made outside of court, and that statement is being used to prove that what it says is true. As a general rule, this kind of evidence cannot be used in court.

There are some exceptions, though. Hearsay can be allowed if a Virgin Islands law says it's okay, if another evidence rule allows it, or if the Virgin Islands Supreme Court has created a special rule that permits it. So while hearsay is normally blocked, there are specific situations where it can still come in as evidence.

This matters because it affects what kind of statements a judge will let witnesses testify about. If someone tries to tell the court what another person said outside of court, and that statement doesn't fit one of these exceptions, the other side can object and keep it out of the case.