What is necessary for a fact to be judicially noticed in a civil action?

For a fact to be judicially noticed in a civil action, it must meet certain criteria that lend it a level of reliability and acceptance by the community or legal system. The correct answer indicates that the fact must be conclusive and widely recognized.

This requirement aligns with the legal standards for judicial notice, which allow courts to recognize certain facts that are not subject to reasonable dispute because they are generally known within the jurisdiction or can be accurately and readily determined from reliable sources. In essence, the fact should be one that a reasonable person in the community would view as incontestable, thus facilitating the judicial process by saving time and resources that would otherwise be spent proving the fact during trial.

The other options do not satisfy the criteria for judicial notice. A fact being irrelevant would preclude it from being noted in the first place; hearsay does not provide the level of reliability necessary for judicial notice; and a fact being disputed indicates that it should be considered in the context of evidence rather than being accepted outright as an acknowledged truth. Therefore, adherence to the standards of being conclusive and widely recognized is essential for a fact to qualify for judicial notice in a civil action.