Which exception deals with a judgement of a previous conviction?

• A. Public records
• B. Judgement of a previous conviction
• C. Absence of a public record
• D. Records of regularly conducted activity

Answer: (B)

The concept here is that there is a specific hearsay exception for final judgments of conviction. When a person has been convicted of a crime in a prior proceeding, that final judgment can be admitted to prove the facts essential to the conviction itself, subject to balancing against unfair prejudice. This makes sense because a formal judgment carries established adjudicative weight about the defendant’s guilt, and it’s a distinct category from other hearsay exceptions like public records or business records.

The option naming a judgment of a previous conviction directly corresponds to that exception, which is why it’s the best choice. The other options cover different kinds of evidence (public records, absence of a public record, and records of regularly conducted activity) and do not address judgments of prior convictions.