Before a witness may testify about a matter, what must be shown?

• A. The witness has personal knowledge of the matter
• B. The witness holds a professional license
• C. The witness has previously testified in another case
• D. The witness is an expert in a related field

Answer: (A)

The main concept being tested is that a witness may testify about a matter only if they have personal knowledge of it. Personal knowledge means firsthand information gained through the witness’s own senses or direct involvement in the event, not something learned secondhand or inferred. This requirement keeps testimony reliable by ensuring the witness actually perceived what they’re describing, rather than repeating rumors or speculation. Lay witnesses can testify about things they observed or experienced themselves, while they cannot testify to facts they did not perceive. Licensing, prior testimony in another case, or being an expert in a related field are not themselves prerequisites for testifying about a matter; rather, expertise governs the kind of opinion an witness may offer, not the basic admissibility of testifying about observed facts. In short, before a witness may testify about a matter, they must personally know what they are talking about.