§ Rule 104 Preliminary Questions
Rule 104. Preliminary Questions
(a) Questions of Admissibility Generally. Preliminary questions concerning the qualification of a person to be a witness, the existence of a privilege, or the admissibility of evidence, shall be determined by the court, subject to the provisions of subdivision (b). In making its determination it is not bound by the rules of evidence except those with respect to privileges.
(b) Relevancy Conditioned on Fact. Whenever the relevancy of evidence depends upon the fulfillment of a condition of fact, the court shall admit it upon, or in the court's discretion subject to, the introduction of evidence sufficient to support a finding of the fulfillment of the condition.
(c) Hearing of Jury. Hearings on the admissibility of confessions in criminal cases must be conducted out of the hearing of the jury. Hearings on other preliminary matters in all cases must be so conducted whenever the interests of justice require or, in criminal cases, whenever an accused is a witness and so requests.
(d) Testimony by Accused. By testifying upon a preliminary matter, an accused does not become subject to cross-examination as to other issues in the case.
(e) Weight and Credibility. This rule does not limit the right of a party to introduce before the jury evidence relevant to weight or credibility.