To be admissible in court, what characteristic must evidence have?

• A. Material and Relevant
• B. Hearsay
• C. Privileged
• D. Authentic

Answer: (A)

Evidence must have probative value in relation to a fact at issue, meaning it is both relevant and material to what is being decided. If something doesn’t relate to the case or isn’t important to proving or disproving a fact, it can’t be admitted, even if it’s well-presented or trustworthy in other ways. Hearsay is a separate exclusion that often blocks admissibility unless an exception applies, and privileged information is excluded by rule regardless of relevance. Authenticity matters for certain types of evidence, but it doesn’t by itself determine admissibility. So the key characteristic is that the evidence is material and relevant.