james hearing
James hearing. A court proceeding held to determine whether the out-of-court statements of a coconspirator should be admitted into evidence, by analyzing whether there was a conspiracy, whether the declarant and the defendant were part of the conspiracy, and whether the statement was made in furtherance of the conspiracy. United States v. James, 590 F.2d 575 (5th Cir. 1979); Fed. R. Evid. 801(d)(2)(E). [Cases: Criminal Law 427. C.J.S. Criminal Law § 972.]