In a series of blog posts, I’ve been tackling the most common hearsay exceptions. This post focuses on the Rule 803(5) exception for recorded recollections. N.C. Rule 803(5) contains a hearsay exception for “[a] memorandum or record concerning a matter about which a witness once had knowledge but now has insufficient recollection to enable him to testify fully and accurately, shown to have been made or adopted by the witness when the matter was fresh in his memory and to reflect that knowledge correctly.” A lot of folks confuse this hearsay exception with the technique of present recollection refreshed under Evidence Rule 612. Don’t do that! When a witness testifies that he or she cannot remember the matter in question, the proponent may have the witness review a document or item in order to refresh the witness’ memory. If reviewing the material sufficiently refreshes the witness’s recollection, the witness then testifies to the matter in question and no hearsay issues are presented. That is present recollection refreshed. When, however, the witness’ memory cannot be refreshed, the proponent may seek to introduce the contents of a memorandum or record created by the witness as a recorded recollection, and in lieu of the witness’ trial testimony. See, e.g., State v. Spinks, 136 N.C. App.153, 158 (1999) (State turned to this exception when unable to refresh the witness’ recollection). To be admissible as a recorded recollection, the contents of the memorandum or record must satisfy Rule 803(5). See generally State v. Harrison, __ N.C. [...]
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