New Jersey Rules of Evidence – 2026

New Jersey's evidence rules, adopted September 15, 1992 and effective July 1, 1993, cited "N.J.R.E. 403". They are numbered on the Federal Rules of Evidence but depart from them in ways that matter. The rules sit ALONGSIDE the evidence statutes rather than replacing them: N.J.R.E. 101(c) provides that adopting them does not repeal an existing statute by implication, though a statute expressly superseded under N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-40 by an official note appended to a rule has no further effect. Their reach is unusually wide -- Rule 101(a) applies them in all proceedings, civil, criminal, family, municipal or tax, and applies the privileges of Article V "without relaxation" to every branch and agency of government, not just to courts. Article V is the largest article here, codifying privileges New Jersey treats as statutory rather than common law and reserving Rules 520 through 529. On expert testimony, Rule 702 carries the Court's own 2026 Official Court Comment recording that the rule incorporates the reliability standard prescribed in In re Accutane Litigation, 234 N.J. 340 (2018). Three provisions were never adopted -- Rules 103, 1101 and 1102 -- and are shown as such.

Last updated October 16, 2026

Browse all 90 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

Article I: General Provisions

N.J.R.E. 101 Applicability; Exceptions; Definitions N.J.R.E. 102 Purpose and Construction N.J.R.E. 103 Rulings on Evidence [Not Adopted] N.J.R.E. 104 Preliminary Questions N.J.R.E. 105 Limited Admissibility N.J.R.E. 106 Remainder of or Related Writings or Recorded Statements

Article II: Judicial Notice

N.J.R.E. 201 Judicial Notice of Law and Adjudicative Facts N.J.R.E. 202 Judicial Notice in Proceedings Subsequent to Trial

Article III: Presumptions

N.J.R.E. 301 Effect of Presumption N.J.R.E. 302 Choice of Law N.J.R.E. 303 Presumptions Against a Defendant in Criminal Proceedings

Article IV: Relevancy and its Limits

N.J.R.E. 401 Definition of “Relevant Evidence” N.J.R.E. 402 Relevant Evidence Generally Admissible N.J.R.E. 403 Exclusion of Relevant Evidence on Grounds of Prejudice, Confusion, or Waste of Time N.J.R.E. 404 Character Evidence Not Admissible to Prove Conduct; Exceptions; Other Crimes Evidence N.J.R.E. 405 Methods of Proving Character N.J.R.E. 406 Habit, Routine Practice N.J.R.E. 407 Subsequent Remedial Measures N.J.R.E. 408 Settlement Offers and Negotiations N.J.R.E. 409 Payment of Medical and Similar Expenses N.J.R.E. 410 Inadmissibility of Pleas, Plea Discussions and Related Statements N.J.R.E. 411 Liability Insurance

Article V: Privileges

N.J.R.E. 500 General Rule N.J.R.E. 501 Privilege of Accused N.J.R.E. 502 Definition of Incrimination N.J.R.E. 503 Self-Incrimination N.J.R.E. 504 Lawyer-Client Privilege N.J.R.E. 505 Psychologist Privilege N.J.R.E. 506 Patient and Physician Privilege N.J.R.E. 507 Utilization Review Committees of Certified Hospital or Extended Care Facility; Exceptions N.J.R.E. 508 Newsperson's Privilege N.J.R.E. 509 Marital Privilege -- Confidential Communications N.J.R.E. 510 Marriage Counselor Privilege N.J.R.E. 511 Priest-Penitent Privilege N.J.R.E. 512 Religious Belief N.J.R.E. 513 Political Vote N.J.R.E. 514 Trade Secret N.J.R.E. 515 Official Information N.J.R.E. 516 Identity of Informer N.J.R.E. 517 Victim Counselor Privilege N.J.R.E. 518 Social Worker Privilege N.J.R.E. 519 Mediator Privilege N.J.R.E. 520 to 529 [Reserved] N.J.R.E. 530 Waiver of Privilege by Contract or Previous Disclosure; Limitations N.J.R.E. 531 Admissibility of Disclosure Wrongfully Compelled N.J.R.E. 532 Reference to Exercise of Privileges N.J.R.E. 533 Effect of Error in Overruling Claim of Privilege N.J.R.E. 534 Mental Health Service Provider – Patient Privilege

Article VI: Witnesses

N.J.R.E. 601 General Rule of Competency N.J.R.E. 602 Lack of Personal Knowledge N.J.R.E. 603 Oath or Affirmation N.J.R.E. 604 Interpreters N.J.R.E. 605 Restriction on Judge as a Witness N.J.R.E. 606 Restriction on Juror as a Witness N.J.R.E. 607 Witness Impeachment, Support, and Neutralization N.J.R.E. 608 Evidence of a Witness’ Character for Truthfulness or Untruthfulness N.J.R.E. 609 Impeachment by Evidence of Conviction of Crime N.J.R.E. 610 Religious Beliefs or Opinions N.J.R.E. 611 Mode and Order of Interrogation and Presentation N.J.R.E. 612 Writing Used to Refresh Memory N.J.R.E. 613 Prior Statements of Witnesses N.J.R.E. 614 Calling and Interrogation of Witnesses by Court N.J.R.E. 615 Sequestration of Witnesses

Article VII: Opinions and Expert Testimony

N.J.R.E. 701 Opinion Testimony of Lay Witnesses N.J.R.E. 702 Testimony by Expert Witnesses N.J.R.E. 703 Bases of Opinion Testimony by Experts N.J.R.E. 704 Opinion on Ultimate Issue N.J.R.E. 705 Disclosure of Facts or Data Underlying Expert Opinion; Hypotheses Not Necessary

Article VIII:

N.J.R.E. 801 Definitions N.J.R.E. 802 Hearsay Rule N.J.R.E. 803 Hearsay Exceptions Not Dependent on Declarant's Unavailability N.J.R.E. 804 Hearsay Exceptions: Declarant Unavailable N.J.R.E. 805 Hearsay Within Hearsay N.J.R.E. 806 Attacking and Supporting Credibility of Declarant N.J.R.E. 807 Discretion of Court to Exclude Evidence Under Certain Exceptions N.J.R.E. 808 Expert Opinion Included in a Hearsay Statement Admissible Under an Exception

Article IX: Authentication and Identification

N.J.R.E. 901 Requirement of Authentication or Identification N.J.R.E. 902 Self-Authentication N.J.R.E. 903 Testimony of Subscribing Witness Unnecessary

Article X: Contents of Writings, Recordings, and Photographs

N.J.R.E. 1001 Definitions N.J.R.E. 1002 Requirement of Original N.J.R.E. 1003 Admissibility of Duplicates N.J.R.E. 1004 Admissibility of Other Evidence of Contents N.J.R.E. 1005 Public Records N.J.R.E. 1006 Summaries N.J.R.E. 1007 Testimony or Written Statement of Party N.J.R.E. 1008 Functions of Court and Jury

Article XI: Miscellaneous Rules

N.J.R.E. 1101 Applicability of Rules N.J.R.E. 1102 Amendment of Rules N.J.R.E. 1103 Title