Which of the following is NOT listed as part of witness competency in the given material?

• A. Personal knowledge
• B. Testifying live
• C. Hearsay rule
• D. Understands duty to tell truth

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is what makes a witness legally able to testify in court. Competency focuses on whether the person has the ability to observe, recall, and communicate information, and to swear to tell the truth. Personal knowledge is essential because the witness must have firsthand information about the facts. Being able to understand and be bound by an oath or affirmation to tell the truth ensures the testimony is given honestly. The requirement to testify in court (live in the courtroom) is about presenting testimony in the proper setting and ensuring the witness can be examined and cross-examined.

The hearsay rule, by contrast, isn’t about whether a person is competent to testify. It deals with whether out-of-court statements can be admitted to prove the truth of the matter asserted, and this is an evidentiary limitation rather than a competency prerequisite. A witness can be competent to testify even if some of their statements are hearsay that may be excluded unless an exception applies.

So, the statement that is not listed as part of witness competency is the hearsay rule.