Rule 704 Opinion on an Ultimate Issue

Witnesses, including expert witnesses, are allowed to give opinions that touch on the main question the judge or jury has to decide. In the past, some courts blocked testimony just because it got too close to answering the ultimate question in the case. This rule says that's not a valid reason to keep testimony out. If a witness has useful, relevant knowledge, their opinion can still be heard even if it speaks directly to what the judge or jury must decide.

There's one important exception for criminal cases. If the case involves an expert witness, like a psychologist or psychiatrist, that expert cannot tell the jury whether they think the defendant actually had (or didn't have) the specific mental state needed for the crime or a defense. For example, an expert can describe a defendant's mental condition and explain symptoms, but they can't flatly say "the defendant did not have the intent required for this crime." That final call belongs only to the jury or judge deciding the facts. The rule keeps expert testimony helpful without letting it replace the jury's own judgment on guilt.