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The FindLaw Legal Dictionary -- free access to over 8260 definitions of legal terms. Search for a definition or browse our legal glossaries.

term:

Present Sense Impression

present sense impression n

: an out-of-court statement that describes or explains an event or condition and that was made during or immediately after the time the event or condition was perceived
;also
: an exception to the hearsay rule allowing such a statement to be entered as evidence that what was asserted in the statement is true NOTE: Present sense impressions are excepted from the hearsay rule because the immediacy of the response is considered to render the statement trustworthy. “Look out, he's got a gun,” might be considered admissible as a present sense impression.



Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.

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