Describing information, arguments, or materials that are not admissible as proof in a legal or formal context due to their lack of relevance, reliability, or conformity to established rules of evidence. It signifies a lack of bearing on the truth or falsity of a matter under consideration and therefore cannot be used to support a claim or verdict. Essentially, it refers to anything that doesn't serve as factual basis in a legal or investigative procedure, excluding it from the realm of proving a fact or forming an opinion in a formal or scientific setting.
Non-evidentiary meaning with examples
- The detective dismissed the suspect's alibi as non-evidentiary, given the absence of corroborating witnesses or physical evidence to support his claims. His story, while plausible, lacked the necessary weight to be considered in the ongoing investigation. It did not meet the standards required for it to be used as credible evidence, resulting in his alibi being largely disregarded in the case.
- During the trial, the lawyer argued that the defendant's emotional state, as described by a friend, was non-evidentiary. The judge agreed, stating that personal opinions and feelings do not constitute admissible evidence. Such information held no probative value and would likely confuse the jury. Its inclusion could unfairly sway their judgment.
- The researcher found the anecdotal observations provided in the survey to be non-evidentiary in establishing a direct causal relationship. The results, while interesting, lacked the rigor and controls necessary for robust scientific conclusions. Further experimentation was necessary to move beyond the preliminary non-evidentiary state of this information.
- Despite the compelling nature of the story, the journalist recognized that the overheard conversation at the cafe was fundamentally non-evidentiary. Without independent verification or corroboration, the information could not be published as factual reporting. Ethics mandated that this information was not considered valid for reporting.