Evidence of habit or custom may be admitted to establish that a person performed a certain act. The habit must be defined as what?

• A. A general, frequent practice
• B. A deliberate and repetitive practice by a person in complete control of the circumstances
• C. An informal pattern that might vary with circumstances
• D. A once-off event

Answer: (B)

Habit evidence shows that a person’s conduct is governed by a regular, automatic response to a specific situation. The defining feature is a deliberate and repetitive practice in response to a given cue, performed by someone who has control over the circumstances. This makes the pattern reliable and predictable, not just a casual or one-time occurrence.

That’s why the best definition is: a deliberate and repetitive practice by a person in complete control of the circumstances. It captures the elements of regularity, a defined trigger, and a stable pattern of behavior.

General, frequent practice lacks the required link to a specific situation; the informal pattern that might vary with circumstances isn’t reliably repeatable; and a once-off event provides no basis for predicting future conduct.