Judicial notice is a court’s acceptance of a well-known and indisputable fact without requiring the party relying on the fact to prove it. The doctrine of judicial notice is one of common sense, and is based on the theory that where a fact is well-known in the community—or its existence is easily determined from sources that cannot be reasonably questioned—it would not be a good use of judicial time and resources to require formal proof of the fact in court. A court may take judicial notice of both facts and laws.

In Alabama, the concept of judicial notice aligns with the general principles found in other jurisdictions. Alabama Rule of Evidence 201 governs the use of judicial notice in the state's courts. This rule allows courts to recognize certain facts that are so commonly known within the territorial jurisdiction of the court or capable of accurate and ready determination by sources that cannot reasonably be questioned. This can include facts such as historical events, well-established geographical facts, and laws of nature. Additionally, Alabama courts may take judicial notice of the content of state and federal laws, as well as the official acts of legislative, executive, or judicial departments of the United States and of any state of the United States. The rule also provides guidance on when a court must take judicial notice if requested by a party and when it may do so at its own discretion. It is important for parties to understand that while judicial notice can streamline proceedings, it is limited to facts and laws that meet the stringent criteria of being indisputable and easily verifiable.