What is the primary purpose of the Hearsay Rule?

The primary purpose of the Hearsay Rule is to exclude evidence based on prior statements from a person who is not present to testify and be cross-examined. This legal principle is grounded in the concern for the reliability and credibility of testimony. Hearsay is defined as an out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted, and since the original speaker is not available for questioning, the reliability of their statement cannot be properly assessed. Thus, the Hearsay Rule serves to uphold the integrity of the judicial process by ensuring that only reliable evidence is presented in court.

In this context, the other options do not align with the fundamental intent of the Hearsay Rule. The objective is not to admit all types of evidence or to prove facts based on previous representations. Additionally, requiring corroboration for all testimonies is not a function of the Hearsay Rule, which specifically targets the admissibility of out-of-court statements rather than general testimony requirements in legal proceedings.