admission

An admission in the law of evidence is a prior statement by an adverse party which can be admitted into evidence over a hearsay objection. In general, admissions are admissible in criminal and civil cases. At common law, admissions were admissible. A statement could only be excluded by a showing of involuntariness, unfairness, or that the circumstances under which the statement was obtained was improper or illegal. Form of admission An admission may be made orally or contained within a writing. In some situations, an admission that is made by an authorized agent of a party to litigation will be admissible as evidence and attributable to that party. Oral admission Where the admission is oral, the person who heard the admission may testify to what the party who made the admission said.