§ Rule 104 Preliminary Questions

Codes > Maine Revised Statutes > Rules of > Article I > Rule 104

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 this determination it is not bound by the rules of evidence except those with respect to privileges and on questions arising in hearings on motions to suppress evidence and the like.

    (b) Relevancy Conditioned on Fact. When the relevancy of evidence depends upon the fulfillment of a condition of fact, the court shall admit it upon the introduction of evidence sufficient to support a finding that the condition has been fulfilled. The court has discretion to admit evidence conditionally upon the representation that its relevancy will be established by evidence subsequently offered.

    (c) Hearing of Jury. Hearings on the admissibility of confessions shall in all cases be conducted out of the hearing of the jury. Hearings on other preliminary matters shall be so conducted when the interests of justice require or, when an accused is a witness, and so requests.

    (d) Testimony by Accused. The accused does not, by testifying upon a preliminary matter, 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.