The quality or state of being relevant, appropriate, or directly related to something.
From germane plus -ness suffix. Follows standard English pattern of creating abstract nouns from adjectives to describe qualities or states.
Courts use 'germaneness' to decide if evidence can be presented — a fact needs to pass the 'germaneness test,' meaning it must be closely related to the case. It's why random gossip about a defendant might be excluded as lacking germaneness.
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