§ 60-457 Preliminary examination for non-expert witness; pre-trial hearing for expert witness.

This rule covers how courts check on witnesses who give opinions instead of just stating facts.

For a regular witness who is not an expert, the judge can ask questions first about how that witness knows what they know before letting them share an opinion. This makes sure the opinion is actually based on something solid, not a guess.

For expert witnesses, either side in the case can ask the court to hold a special hearing before trial. At this hearing, the judge decides two things: whether the person actually counts as an expert, and whether what they plan to say in court meets the legal standards for expert testimony. The judge has to finish this hearing and make a decision before the final pretrial conference, so both sides know ahead of time whether the expert will be allowed to testify and what they can say.

This process protects the fairness of the trial. It stops surprise expert testimony and gives both sides a chance to challenge whether someone is truly qualified before the jury ever hears from them.