This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
This rule explains the goal behind all the evidence rules. Courts should apply them in a way that keeps trials fair, avoids wasting time and money, and helps get to the truth.
In practice, this means judges have some flexibility when deciding how to handle evidence questions. If there's ever confusion about how a specific rule should work, the judge can look back to this basic purpose: make sure the process is fair, don't drag things out unnecessarily, and help the court reach a fair and truthful outcome. This rule acts like a guide for interpreting all the other evidence rules, rather than setting out a specific legal requirement itself.
