Eleanor Swift

A Foundation Fact Approach to Hearsay

I. THE CATEGORICAL APPROACH TO THE ADMISSION OF H EARSAY ................................................ 1343 A. The Common Law Development of Categorical Exceptions ............................................ 1344 B. The Failure of Categorical Generalizations to Insure Accuracy ............................................. 1347 II. THE FOUNDATION FACT APPROACH IN THEORY .......... 1354 A. The Basic Standard: The Requirement that the Proponent Produce a Knowledgeable Process Foundation W itness .............................................. 1355 B. The Underlying Values ................................ 1361 1. Operational Accuracy: Evaluating Hearsay by the Triers General Knowledge and Experience ......... 1361 2. Increasing the Independence of the Trier of Fact .... 1367 3. Achieving Fairness Through Trial Access to Proof... 1369 C. Calculating the Costs of the Foundation Fact Approach . 1375 III. THE FOUNDATION FACT APPROACH IN PRACTICE ......... 1377 A. Unavailability of a Process Foundation Witness ......... 1378 B. The Opponents Prior Access to the Declarant .......... 1383 C. Statements Made by Multiple Declarants ............... 1386 D. Predicting the Future of the Foundation Fact Approach. 1389 IV. THE FOUNDATION FACT APPROACH APPLIED TO THE