What term describes a statement like "Janie told me that Bob said he was going to beat her," which is typically inadmissible in court?

The correct term for a statement like "Janie told me that Bob said he was going to beat her" is hearsay evidence. Hearsay is generally defined as an out-of-court statement made by someone other than the testifying witness, offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted within that statement. In this case, the statement involves multiple layers: Janie is relaying what Bob supposedly said, making it second-hand information rather than direct testimony. Because of its nature, hearsay cannot be verified in court since the individuals making the original statements (Janie and Bob) are not there to provide direct testimony or be cross-examined regarding their statements. Thus, hearsay evidence is typically inadmissible in court unless it falls under certain exceptions provided by law. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the judicial process, as it allows for more reliable and direct evidence to be considered in legal proceedings.