Chapter 3 - §22. Exception—Rule of completeness

• Jurisdiction: United States

§22. Exception—Rule of completeness

Although not delineated in the Evidence Code as a hearsay exception, nor exclusively used for the purpose of admitting hearsay evidence, Evid. C. §356 permits the court to admit evidence that would otherwise be considered inadmissible hearsay. See People v. Vines (2011) 51 Cal.4th 830, 862 (recognizing "the hearsay exception embodied in Evid. C. §356"), overruled on other grounds, People v. Hardy (2018) 5 Cal.5th 56. Under Evid. C. §356, if evidence of one part of a conversation, declaration, or writing is admitted into evidence, the opposing party can introduce other parts of that conversation, declaration, or writing to the extent they are on the same subject as the first part admitted and necessary to the understanding of the statement. See U.S. v. Lopez (9th...