A court takes judicial notice of a fact when it deems the fact established as true without the necessity of any evidence being presented.  See also EVIDENCE–Defined.  The two types of facts which may be the subject of judicial notice are legislative facts and adjudicative facts.

Legislative Facts

Legislative facts are those which relate to legal reasoning and the lawmaking process.  Because legislative facts are so fundamental to the judicial process, judicial notice is often taken of them implicitly, without any reference to the doctrine or rules of judicial notice.  The federal rules do not address judicial notice of legislative facts.{footnote}Check Fed. R. Civ. P. 44.1{/footnote}  See also LAW–Judicial Notice; REGULATIONS; EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND PROCLAMATIONS.

Adjudicative Facts

Courts may properly take judicial notice of adjudicative facts, which are like any other facts relevant to a case except that they are not the subject of reasonable dispute,{footnote} [2472] Haavistola v. Community Fire Co. of Rising Sun, Inc., 6 F.3d 211 (4th Cir. 1993), on remand 839 F. Supp. 372 (abuse of discretion to take judicial notice of disputed adjudicative facts); Hennessy v. Penril DataComm Networks, Inc., 69 F.3d 1344 (7th Cir. 1995); Castillo-Villagra v. I.N.S., 972 F.2d 1017 (9th Cir. 1992); United States v. Jones, 29 F.3d 1549 (11th Cir. 1994).{/footnote} and are either a matter of general knowledge{footnote}Neeld v. National Hockey League, 594 F.2d 1297 (9th Cir. 1979)(nature of hockey as a sport);{/footnote} or are readily verifiable by reference to authoritative sources.{footnote}FRE 201(a); Holloway v. Lockhart, 813 F.2d 874 (8th Cir. 1987)(facttual findings reached in prior lawsuit not sobject to judicial notice); Nationalist Movement v. Cumming, 913 F.2d 885 (11th Cir. 1990)(history of local demonstrations conducted by plaintiff); Norman v. Housing Authority of City of Montgomery, 836 F.2d 1292 (11th Cir. 1988); B.V.D. Licensing Corp. v. Body Action Design, Inc., 846 F.2d 727 (Fed. Cir. 1988).

Varcoe v. Lee, 180 Cal. 338 (1919).

Check United States v. Ramirez, 910 F.2d 1069 (2d Cir. 1990).{/footnote}  Some types of adjudicative facts are the subject of separate articles.  See HISTORICAL EVENTS–Judicial Notice.

When Mandatory.  Courts are generally required to take judicial notice of matters which are universally known and beyond any reasonable dispute.{footnote}Cal. § 451.{/footnote}  Judicial notice is discretionary as to those matters which are common knowledge locally but not universally.{footnote}United States v. Lavender, 602 F.2d 639 (3d Cir. 1979); United States v. Four Million, Two Hundred Fifty-Five Thousand, 762 F.2d 895 (11th Cir. 1985), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1056, 106 S.Ct. 795, 88 L.Ed.2d 772 (1985?)(judicial notice properly taken of fact that Miami is a center for drug smuugling activities). {/footnote}  See DATES; GEOGRAPHY; MAILING–Judicial Notice; WEATHER–Judicial Notice.  Judicial notice is also discretionary as to matters readily verifiable by reference to authoritative sources such as almanacs.{footnote}United States v. Gould, 536 F.2d 216 (8th Cir. 1976).{/footnote}  On

Procedure

Judicial notice may generally be taken at any stage in the court proceedings,{footnote}FRE 201(f).  See, e.g.,  United States v. Wood, 925 F.2d 1580 (7th Cir. 1991)(motion for judgment on the pleadings).

But see In re Indian Palms Associates, Ltd., 61 F.3d 197 (3d Cir. 1995)(judicial notice appropriate at any stage, including appeal, only so long as it is not unfair to a party and does not interfere with trial court’s fact-finding role); Colonial Leasing Co. v. Logistics Control Group International, 762 F.2d 454 (5th Cir. 1985)(court’s delay in taking judicial notice until written opinion held error).{/footnote} including the consideration of a motion to dismiss.{footnote} Citizens for a Better Environment-California v. Union Oli Co. of California, 861 F.Supp. 889 (N.D. Cal. 1994), aff’d, 83 F.3d 1111 (motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim); Bulova Watch Co. v. K. Hattori & Co., 508 F. Supp. 1322 (E.D.N.Y. 1981)(motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction).

See also Henson v. CSC Credit Services, 29 F.3d 280 (7th Cir. 1994)(taking judicial notice of state court case did not convert motion to dismiss into motion for summary judgment).{/footnote}  Courts may take judicial notice of appropriate matters sua sponte, or on the request of a party.  For those matters as to which judicial notice is discretionary, the court must give notice to the parties and offer them an opportunity to be heard on the matter.{footnote}FRE 201(e); Cooperativa de Ahorro y Credito Aguada v. Kidder, Peabody & Co., 993 F.2d 269 (1st Cir. 1993)(judicial notice of news reports improper without notice and opportunity to be heard), rehearing denied, cert. denied, 115 S.Ct. 1792, 131 L.Ed.2d 720.

 Cal. § 455.{/footnote} 

Under the federal rules and in some states, a court is required to take judicial notice if requested by a party and the party supplies the court with the necessary information.{footnote}FRE 201(d); Clark v. South Cent. Bell Telephone Co., 419 F. Supp. 697 (W.D. La. 1976); Cal. § 453.{/footnote}

The court may refer to and rely on outside sources of information (such as an encyclopedia,{footnote}Palmer v. Sun Oil Co., 78 F. Supp. 38 (D.C. Ohio 1948).{/footnote} almanac or an independent expert) in ruling on a request for judicial notice, but those sources of information must be disclosed on the record.{footnote}Cal. § 455.{/footnote}

Upon a timely request, a party must be heard as to any fact being judicially noticed.{footnote}FRE 201(e).{/footnote}  If a party fails to make a timely request for a hearing, however, any error will be deemed waived.{footnote}Norman v. Housing Authority of Montgomery, 836 F.2d 1292 (11th Cir. 1988).{/footnote}

Conclusiveness

Federal Rules.  Under the federal rules, in civil cases, facts judicially noticed are conclusively established and may not be controverted.{footnote}FRE 201(g); United States v. Jones, 29 F.3d 1549 (11th Cir. 1994).{/footnote}   Judicial notice removes the necessity of evidence proving the noticed fact.{footnote}United States v. Schmitt, 748 F.2d 249 (5th Cir. 1984).{/footnote}  Compare with Criminal Cases, below.

Criminal Cases

Adjudicative Facts.  Judicial notice of adjudicative facts is appropriate in criminal cases.  In contrast to civil cases, however, the jury must be instructed that it may, but is not require to, accept any matter judicially noticed as conclusive against the defendant (or for that matter, against the prosecution in federal court).{footnote}FRE 201(g).{/footnote}  Moreover, judicial notice cannot be taken as to any of the elements of a crime(???).{footnote} [2489] Contra United States v. Mentz, 840 F.2d 315 (6th Cir. 1988).{/footnote}  The defendant must be given notice and an opportunity to be heard as to any facts being judicially noticed which are being used against him.{footnote} [2490] United States v. Jones, 580 F.2d 219 (6th Cir. 1978); United States v. Garcia, 672 F.2d 1349 (11th Cir. 1982).{/footnote}  The trial court should carefully identify the fact being judicially noticed and its basis for taking judicial notice.{footnote}United States v. Mentz, 840 F.2d 315 (6th Cir. 1988).{/footnote}  See also Appellate Courts, below.

Legislative Facts.  Legislative facts are indisputable, and therefore binding on the jury, even in a criminal case.{footnote}United States v. Gould, 536 F.2d 216 (8th Cir. 1976).{/footnote}

Appellate Courts

Appellate courts may take judicial notice of legislative and adjudicative facts.{footnote}FRE 201(f); Cal. § 459.{/footnote}  Appellate courts are required to take judicial notice where the court below erroneously failed to do so.{footnote}Meredith v. Fair, 298 F.2d 696 (5th Cir. 1962) (fact of segregation measures taken by State of Mississippi).{/footnote}   Where the requesting party has failed to include the matter to be judicially noticed within the record on appeal, however, judicial notice will sometimes be refused.{footnote}Marbled Murrelet v. Babbitt, 85 F.3d 1068 (9th Cir. 1996)(memorandum of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service not judicially noticed by appellate court because not part of record).
{/footnote} 

There is some question as to whether in criminal cases a defendant’s right to a jury trial is infringed where the appellate court take judicial notice of adjudicative facts, since the jury is always free to disregard facts which have been judicially noticed.{footnote} [2496] Holding that judicial notice not allowed: United States v. Jones, 580 F.2d 219 (6th Cir. 1978)

Check United States v. Dior, 671 F.2d 351 (9th Cir. 1982).{/footnote}  See Criminal Cases, above.

Various Subjects of Judicial Notice

Human Traits. 

See also under Science–Medicine, below.

Animal Traits. See ANIMALS–Judicial Notice. 

Other Natural Phenomena.  Judicial notice has been taken as to the nature of combustion.{footnote}Goodman v. Stalfort, Inc., 411 F. Supp. 889 (D.N.J. 1976), modified,  564 F.2d 89 (3d Cir. 1977).{/footnote}

See also WEATHER–Judicial Notice.

Characteristics of Substances.  Courts may properly take judicial notice of the characteristics of substances.{footnote}Mannsz v. Macwhyte Co., 155 F.2d 445 (3d Cir. 1946); Simkins v. R.L. Morrison & Sons, 107 F.2d 121 (5th Cir. 1939)(gasoline); Jamieson v. Woodward & Lathrop, 101 App. D.C. 32, 247 F.2d 23 (D.C. 1957)(elastic substances); Kimberly-Clark Corp. v. Johnson & Johnson, 745 F.2d 1437 (Fed. Cir. 1984); McNamara v. United States, 199 F. Supp. 879 (D.C. 1961).{/footnote}

Characteristics of Devices, Machines, Vehicles, Etc.  Judicial notice has been held proper as to the functioning of devices such as radar.{footnote} [2499] Granholm v. TFL Express, 576 F. Supp. 435 (S.D.N.Y. 1983).{/footnote}  Judicial notice has also been held proper as to the functioning of vehicles, such as automobiles{footnote}Navajo Freight Lines v. Mahaffy, 174 F.2d 305 (10th Cir. 1949); Duncan v. United States, 98 F. Supp. 483 (D.C. Okla. 1951)(loss of control on slippery roads).

But see Carley v. Wheeled Coach, 991 F.2d 1117 (3d Cir. 1993), cert. denied, 114 S.Ct. 191, 510 U.S. 868, 126 L.Ed.2d 150 (judicial notice improper as to tendency of vehicles with high center of gravity to roll over).{/footnote} tractors{footnote}Pilot Freight Carriers, Inc. v. Spivey, 278 F. Supp. 520 (D.C. S.C. 1967).{/footnote} and bicycles{footnote}Marcyan v. Nissan Corp., 578 F. Supp. 485 (N.D. Ind. 1982)(invertibility of handlebars).{/footnote}  Judicial notice has been held inappropriate with respect to the quality of a particular product.{footnote}Storm Plastics, Inc. v. United States, 770 F.2d 148 (10th Cir. 1985).{/footnote}

Science.  See SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE.

Medicine.  Judidicial notice has in some cases been held proper as to well-known medical facts,{footnote}Urie v. Thompson, 337 U.S. 163, 93 L.Ed. 1282, 69 S.Ct. 1018 (1949)(effect on lungs of silica dust); Samanski v. Mobile Seafood Co., 258 F.2d 823 (5th Cir. 1958)(tuberculosuis is infectious); United States v. Dupre, 110 F.2d 315 (5th Cir. 1940)(tuberculosis curable); Ratliff v. Celebrezze, 338 F.2d 978 (6th Cir. 1964)(dangers and side effects of spinal fusion surgery); Independent Dairymen’s Assoc. v. Denver, 142 F.2d 940 (10th Cir. 1944)(contaminated milk as source of disease); Hines on behalf of Sevier v. Secretary of Dept. of Health and Human Services, 940 F.2d 1518 (Fed. Cir. 1991)(incubation period of measles);  Jeffries v. Olesen, 121 F. Supp. 463 (D.C.Cal. 1954)(effect of aging on muscles); Norton v. United States, 110 F. Supp. 94 (D.C. Fla. 1953)(nature of arthritis); Hughes v. Standard Life Ins. Co., 140 F. Supp. 577 (D.C. La. 1956)(epilepsy not fatal); Cruz v. Harkna, 122 F. Supp. 288 (D.C.N.Y. 1954)(causes of hernias).{/footnote} and the reliability of certain standard medical treatises,{footnote}21 U.S.C. 301 et seq. (recognizing Pharmacopoeia as standard reference); The Norte, 69 F. Supp. 881 (D.C. Pa. 1947).{/footnote} but in other cases judicial notice of medical questions has been held improper.{footnote}Hardy v. Johns-Manville Sales Corp., 681 F.2d 334 (5th Cir. 1982)(whether asbestos causes cancer); Fielder v. Bosshard, 590 F.2d 105 (5th Cir. 1979).{/footnote}   See also LIFE EXPECTANCY.

Government.  Many different types of facts about government offices have been held to be properly the subject of judicial notice.{footnote} [2507] Peters v. Delaware River Port Authority of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, 16 F.3d 1346 (3d Cir. 1994), rehearing denied and cert. denied, 115 S. Ct. 62, 130 L.Ed.2d 20, on remand 1995 WL 3764 (local political controversies reflected in newspaper articles); Barnes v. Bosley, 568 F. Supp. 1406 (E.D. Mo. 1983), modified, 745 F.2d 501 (8th Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 105 S.Ct. 2022 (1985)(that a particular political party controls certain offices); Sinatra v. Heckler, 566 F. Supp. 1354 (E.D.N.Y. 1983)(that the mail is slowed during the year-end holiday time); Joseph v. United States Civil Service Comm’n, 554 F.2d 1140 (D.C. Cir. 1977)(candidates for city council); Fleming v. Tidewater Optical Co., 35 F. Supp. 1015 (D.C. Va. 1940)(that governmental bureaucracies act slowly).

But see United States v. Bourque, 541 F.2d 290 (1st Cir. 1976)(judicial notice held improper as to whether the Internal Revenue Service loses income tax returns).
{/footnote} ;
See also COURT RECORDS; EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND PROCLAMATIONS; OFFICIAL RECORDS AND REPORTS; REGULATIONS.

Courts.  Judicial notice has been taken by a federal court as to whether a forum state court system is congested,{footnote}West v. Village of Morrisville, 728 F.2d 130 (2d Cir. 1984).{/footnote} and the extent of a state court’s jurisdiction.{footnote}Boat man v. Town of Oakland, Fla., 76 F.3d 341 (11th Cir. 1996).{/footnote}

The Economy.  Certain economic facts have been held to be properly the subject of judicial notice, such as: current interest rates,{footnote}Transorient Navigators Co. v. M/S Southwind, 788 F.2d 288 (5th Cir. 1986); Havens Steel Co. v. Randolph Engineering Co., 813 F.2d 186 (8th Cir. 1987); United States v. 97.19 Acres, 511 F. Supp. 565 (D. Md. 1981).

But see Ohio River Co. v. Peavey Co., 731 F.2d 547 (8th Cir. 1984)(judicial notice improper as to appropriate rate of prejudgment interest, where disputed).{/footnote} inflation,{footnote}Rottenberg v. United States, 137 F.2d 850 (1st Cir. 1943); Fox v. Kane-Miller Corp., 398 F. Supp. 609 (D. Md. 1975), aff’d, 542 F.2d 915 (4th Cir. 1976)(rate of inflation); United States v. Luehr, 208 F.2d 138 (9th Cir. 1953); Atkins v. United States, 556 F.2d 1028 (Ct. Cl. 1977), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 1009 (1978)(effect on judges’ salaries).{/footnote} discount rates for a lump sum payment,{footnote}Varlack v. S.W.C. Caribbean, Inc., 550 F.2d 171 (3d Cir. 1977).{/footnote} and the basic workings of unions.{footnote}Farnsworth & Chambers Co. v. Sheet Metal Workers Int’l Assoc., 125 F. Supp. 830 (D.C.N.Y. 1954).{/footnote}  Other economic facts have been held not to be properly the subject of judicial notice, such as whether a defendant’s activities affect interstate commerce.{footnote}Cardio-Medical Assocs., Ltd. v. Crozer-Chester Medical Center, 721 F. 2d 68 (3d Cir. 1983).{/footnote}

Business.  Certain facts about business practices have been held to be properly the subject of judicial notice,{footnote} [2515] But see Town Sound and Custom Tops, Inc. v. Chrysler Motors Corp., 959 F.2d 468 (3d Cir. 1992), cert. denied 506 U.S. 868, 113 S.Ct. 196, 121 L.Ed.2d 139 (judicial notice improper as to whether car manufacturers engaging in practive of including sound systems in price of automobiles).{/footnote} such as the practice of banks to send monthly statements to checking account customers.{footnote} [2516] Kaggen v. I.R.S., 71 F.3d 1018 (2d Cir. 1995).{/footnote}

Real Estate.  The fact that real estate generally sells for a lower price at a forced sale.{footnote}Resolution Trust Corp. v. Carr, 13 F.3d 425 (1st Cir. 1993).{/footnote}

Society.  Certain social facts have been held to be properly the subject of judicial notice, such as the preponderance of women in the teaching profession.{footnote}Caulfield v. Board of Education, 486 F. Supp. 862 (E.D.N.Y.), aff’d, 632 F.2d 999 (2d Cir. 1980), cert. denied, 450 U.S. 1030 (1981).{/footnote}

Religion.  Well-established facts about various religions have been held properly the subject of judicial notice.{footnote}Ward v. Walsh, 1 F.3d 873 (9th Cir. 1993), cert. denied, 114 S.Ct. 1297, 127 L.Ed.2d 649, appeal after remand, 76 F.3d 390; Werner v. McCotter, 49 F.3d 1476, cert. denied, Thomas v. McCotter, 115 S.Ct. 2625, 132 L.Ed.2d 866, rehearing denied 116 S.Ct. 31, 132 L.Ed.2d 913 (role of sweat lodge in many Native American religions).{/footnote}

Current Events.  Judicial notice has been taken as current events locally,{footnote}Ritter v. Hughes Aircraft Co., 58 F.3d 454 (9th Cir. 1995)(layoffs by efendant-employer).{/footnote} nationally, and even internationally.{footnote}Ivezaj v. I.N.S., 84 F.3d 215 (6th Cir. 1996)(persecution of Albanians by Serbs); Orantes-Hernandez v. Smith, 541 F. Supp. 351 (C.D. Cal. 1982)(existence of a civil war and nature of the hostilities); Mainline Inv. Corp. v. Gaines, 407 F. Supp. 423 (N.D. Tex. 1976)(events in oil industry).{/footnote}  See also Economic Facts, below.

Historical Facts.  Judicial notice may be taken of well-known historical events relevant to the issues in the case.{footnote}Bickel v. Korean Airlines Co., Ltd., 83 F.3d 127 (6th Cir. 1996)(demise of Soviet Union); Nationalist Movement v. Cumming, 913 F.2d 885 (11th Cir. 1990)(history of local demonstrations conducted by plaintiff); Mainline Investment Corp. v. Gaines, 407 F. Supp. 423 (N.D. Tex.) (Arab oil embargo).{/footnote}

Related Articles

ABBREVIATIONS; ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS–Judicial Notice; ANIMALS–Judicial Notice; ASSOCIATIONS; ATTORNEY’S FEES; CORPORATIONS; COURT RECORDS–Judicial Notice; DATES; EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND PROCALAMTIONS; GEOGRAPHY–Judicial Notice;  HISTORICAL Events–Judicial Notice; LAWS; MEASURE; NAVIGABILITY; ORDINANCES; OTHER ACTS, TRANSACTIONS OR OCCURRENCES–Habit or Custom:  Judicial Notice; POPULATION; REGULATIONS; SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE–Judicial Notice of Scientific Concepts;  STATISTICS–Judicial Notice; TESTIMONY–Judicial Notice;  TIME;  TREATIES; VALUATION–Judicial Notice; WEATHER–Judicial Notice; WEIGHT; WORDS AND PHRASES.