Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in California

Re: admissible testimony

Evidence Code section 1200, entitled "The hearsay rule" states:

(a) "Hearsay evidence" is evidence of a statement that was made other than by a witness while testifying at the hearing and that is offered to prove the truth of the matter stated.

(b) Except as provided by law, hearsay evidence is inadmissible.

(c) This section shall be known and may be cited as the hearsay rule.

Sometimes, though, the exceptions subsume the rule. For instance, a dying declaration is admissible despite it being hearsay; a declaration of a person who is unavailable in certain circumstances can be admissible, etc.