"In trials of fact, by oral testimony, the proper inquiry is not whether is it possible that the testimony may be false, but whether there is sufficient probability that it is true"
- Simon Greenleaf
About this Quote
This quote by Simon Greenleaf is describing the process of determining the fact in a trial based upon oral statement. Greenleaf is stressing that the focus must not be on whether the statement might be incorrect, but rather on whether there is an adequate likelihood that it holds true. He is suggesting that the court ought to not be too fast to dismiss testimony as false, however should rather consider the likelihood that it is true. This quote is a suggestion that the court should not be too fast to judge, but need to instead put in the time to think about all the evidence and determine the truth. Greenleaf's quote is a tip that the court ought to not be too fast to judge, however need to instead take the time to consider all the proof and figure out the reality. This quote is a tip that the court ought to be neutral and consider all the evidence prior to deciding.
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