NCTJ Court Reporting Practice Exam

Admissible evidence refers to any type of information or material that a court accepts and allows to be presented during a trial. This means that the evidence meets specific legal criteria and rules that establish its reliability, relevance, and integrity. Admissible evidence must be pertinent to the case at hand and must be obtained through lawful means.

In court proceedings, only evidence that adheres to established standards can influence the jury’s or judge's decision-making. For example, evidence obtained illegally would not qualify as admissible. The concept is crucial for ensuring that trials maintain fairness and that the evidence presented can be trusted in the context of legal arguments and the pursuit of justice.

The other options reflect different scenarios regarding evidence but do not accurately define what is meant by admissible evidence in a legal context. Evidence that is debated in court may lead to discussions about its admissibility, but it does not itself necessarily qualify as admissible. Similarly, evidence that is presented but not officially acknowledged does not meet the criteria to be considered admissible because acknowledging it is part of the legal proceedings. Lastly, evidence collected after the trial would not be relevant to that particular case and would not be admissible in court for decisions regarding earlier proceedings.