If a statement from a learned treatise is admitted, how may it be used in court?

• A. It may be read into evidence but not received as an exhibit
• B. It must be introduced as an exhibit
• C. It may be used as the sole basis of a verdict
• D. It may be used only to impeach a witness

Answer: (A)

Learned treatises are recognized authorities that can support an expert’s testimony. When a statement from such a treatise is admitted, it is read into the record, but the treatise itself is not received as a physical exhibit. This lets the content inform the jury and bolster the expert’s opinion without turning the document into tangible evidence. The material can help show the general acceptance or reliability of the viewpoint being offered, and an expert may cite it to explain or justify their conclusions. It isn’t used as the sole basis for a verdict, and while it can be used in impeachment contexts, its primary purpose here is to support the expert’s testimony, not merely to attack a witness.