There are two categories of judicial notice: judicial notice of facts and judicial notice of laws. What are the limits placed upon the kinds of facts that may be judicially noticed?

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The Answer is Judicial notice is a rule in the law of evidence that allows a fact to be introduced into evidence if the truth of that fact is so notorious or well known that it cannot reasonably be doubted. This can be a significant time-saver in trials as it avoids the need for parties to prove facts that are already commonly known. However, there are limits to the kinds of facts that courts can judicially notice.

The limits placed upon the kinds of facts that may be judicially noticed are generally governed by legal standards and rules of evidence, such as the Federal Rules of Evidence in the United States or similar provisions in other jurisdictions. Here are some of the key limitations:

1. **Common Knowledge**: The fact must be one not subject to reasonable dispute because it is either (1) generally known within the trial court’s territorial jurisdiction, or (2) capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned.

2. **Not Subject to Reasonable Dispute**: The fact must be so universally known that it cannot be reasonably questioned, or it must be easily verifiable from a reliable source.

3. **Public Records and Official Documents**: Courts can take judicial notice of governmental records and official documents, but there are limits to this, especially regarding the truth of the factual findings reported in those documents.

4. **Accuracy and Reliability**: The source of the fact must be known for its accuracy and reliability. For instance, courts may refer to almanacs, dictionaries, and geography texts for certain facts.

5. **Not Subject to Legal Debate**: The fact must not be a matter of legal debate. If the fact involves an area of active legal discussion or is central to the case's outcome, it may not be appropriate for judicial notice.

6. **Procedural Safeguards**: Some jurisdictions require that parties be given notice when the court intends to take judicial notice of a fact, and they must be given an opportunity to be heard on the matter if they object.

7. **Scope of the Case**: The fact must be relevant to the issues in the case. Irrelevant facts, even if notorious or easily ascertainable, are not appropriate for judicial notice.

8. **Discretion of the Court**: Even if a fact meets the criteria for judicial notice, courts often have discretion as to whether or not to actually take notice of the fact.

9. **Appealability**: In some cases, a court's decision to take judicial notice of a fact can be reviewed on appeal, especially if it had a significant impact on the outcome of the case.

10. **Not for Adjudicative Facts**: Judicial notice is typically not used for adjudicative facts (those that directly relate to the parties in the case and their activities), but rather for background facts that help to understand the context of the case.

It's important to note that the specific rules and limitations on judicial notice can vary by jurisdiction, and the above points are general guidelines. Legal professionals must consult the rules of evidence applicable in their specific court to understand the precise scope and limits of judicial notice in their cases.

There Are Two Categories of Judicial Notice: Judicial Notice of Facts