Paydar v. State

Siamak Paydar v. State of Maryland, No. 2673, September Term, 2018. Opinion by Kenney, J. EVIDENCE – HEARSAY – PUBLIC RECORDS EXCEPTION – WHEN OFFERED AGAINST AN ACCUSED IN A CRIMINAL ACTION Md. Rule 5-803(b)(8), commonly referred to as the “public records exception,” permits admission of hearsay statements contained within public records and reports. Under the exception, information in a public agency record of “matters observed pursuant to a duty imposed by law, as to which matters there was a duty to report” would ordinarily be admissible. Md. Rule 5-803(b)(8)(A)(ii). But, under Md. Rule…