Which criteria enable judicial notice of a fact not subject to reasonable dispute?

• A. Generally known within jurisdiction or readily verifiable from reliable sources
• B. Supported by hearsay
• C. Disputed by the parties
• D. Requires expert testimony

Answer: (A)

Judicial notice is for adjudicative facts that are not subject to reasonable dispute, so the court can accept them without formal evidence. The essential criterion is that the fact is generally known within the jurisdiction or can be accurately and readily determined from sources whose accuracy cannot be reasonably questioned. This combination—widely known locally or quickly verifiable from reliable references—is what lets the judge rely on the fact without proof.

That’s why this option is the best choice: it aligns with the standard that supports taking judicial notice of a fact without introducing evidence. The other ideas don’t fit. Hearsay involves out-of-court statements offered for truth and isn’t the basis for judicial notice. If a fact is truly disputed by the parties, it isn’t eligible for judicial notice. And there’s no need for expert testimony for judicial notice—the court can notice the fact on its own.