(a) Only evidence which is admitted by the judge and included in the record shall be considered. | ||||
(b) Evidence rulings shall be made to promote fundamental principles of fairness and justice and to aid in the ascertainment of truth. | ||||
(c) Parties in contested cases shall not be bound by statutory or common law rules of evidence or any formally adopted in the New Jersey Rules of Evidence except as specifically provided in these rules. All relevant evidence is admissible except as otherwise provided herein. A judge may, in his or her discretion, exclude any evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the risk that its admission will either: | ||||
1. Necessitate undue consumption of time; or | ||||
2. Create substantial danger of undue prejudice or confusion. | ||||
(d) If the judge finds at the hearing that there is no bona fide dispute between the parties as to any unstipulated material fact, such fact may be proved by any relevant evidence, and exclusionary rules shall not apply, except for (c) above or a valid claim of privilege. | ||||
(e) When the rules in this subchapter state that the qualification of a person to be a witness, or the admissibility of evidence, or the existence of a privilege is subject to a condition, and the fulfillment of the condition is in issue, the judge shall hold a preliminary inquiry to determine the issue. The judge shall indicate which party has the burden of producing evidence and the burden of proof on such issue as implied by the rule under which the question arises. No evidence may be excluded in determining such issue except pursuant to the judge‘s discretion under (c) above or a valid claim of privilege. This provision shall not be construed to restrict or limit the right of a party to introduce evidence subsequently which is relevant to weight or credibility. | ||||
