2018 US Code
Title 10 - Armed Forces
Subtitle C - Navy and Marine Corps
Part IV - General Administration
Chapter 885 - Stay of Judicial Proceedings
Sec. 8900 - Evidence admissible when witness is not available

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Citation 10 U.S.C. § 8900 (2018)
Section Name §8900. Evidence admissible when witness is not available
Section Text

Whenever the court is satisfied by appropriate evidence or by agreement of counsel that the United States or the claimant is unable after reasonable efforts to secure the testimony of a witness and—

(1) the United States or the claimant has been prevented by a stay under this chapter from examining the witness; or

(2) the United States establishes that it has refrained from bringing a suit or from taking the testimony of the witness in a pending suit to avoid endangering the security of naval operations or interfering with such operations;


the court shall receive in evidence in place of the testimony of the witness—

(1) the affidavit of the witness duly sworn to before a notary public or other authorized officer; or

(2) the statement or testimony of the witness before a court-martial, a court of inquiry, or an investigation; but the use of such statement or testimony does not, in any litigation, make the remainder of the record admissible or compel the United States to produce the remainder of the record.


The court shall give such weight to the affidavit, statement, or testimony as it considers proper under the circumstances.

Source Credit

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 485, §7730; renumbered §8900, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §807(d)(10), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1837.)

Editorial Notes
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)
7730 46 U.S.C. 795. July 3, 1944, ch. 399, §5, 58 Stat. 725.

The words "naval", "board of investigation", and "Coast Guard investigation" are omitted as surplusage.

AMENDMENTS

2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 7730 of this title as this section.

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2018 AMENDMENT

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Title 10 - ARMED FORCES
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 10 - ARMED FORCES
Subtitle C - Navy and Marine Corps
PART IV - GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 885 - STAY OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS
Sec. 8900 - Evidence admissible when witness is not available
Contains section 8900
Date 2018
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 14, 2019
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 58 Stat. 725
132 Stat. 1837
Public Law References Public Law 115-232
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