# Utah R. Evid. 101: Rule 101. Scope; Definitions

> Utah · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_UT_URE_R101

## Section

- **Citation:** Utah R. Evid. 101
- **Heading:** Rule 101. Scope; Definitions
- **Jurisdiction:** Utah
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Utah Court Rules / Utah Rules of Evidence / Utah R. Evid. 101

## Text

(a) Scope.
These rules apply to proceedings in Utah courts. The specific courts and proceedings to which the rules apply, along with exceptions, are set out in
Rule 1101
.
(b) Definitions.
In these rules:
(1) “civil case” means a civil action or proceeding, including all juvenile court proceedings that are not delinquency proceedings;
(2) “criminal case” includes a criminal proceeding and a juvenile court delinquency proceeding;
(3) “public office” includes a public agency;
(4)“record” includes a memorandum, report, or data compilation;
(5) a reference to any kind of written material or any other medium includes electronically stored information;
(6) “defendant” includes a minor in a juvenile delinquency proceeding accused of committing an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult;
(7) “conviction” includes an adjudication in a juvenile delinquency proceeding.
(c) To the extent the above definitions and the Utah Rules of Juvenile Procedure conflict, the provisions of the Utah Rules of Juvenile Procedure shall govern.
2011 Advisory Committee Note.
The language of this rule has been amended as part of the restyling of the Evidence Rules to make them more easily understood and to make class and terminology consistent throughout the rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only. There is no intent to change any result in any ruling on evidence admissibility.
Original Advisory Committee Note.
Adapted from Rule 101, Uniform Rules of Evidence (1974). Rule 1101 contains exceptions dealing with preliminary questions of fact, grand jury proceedings, miscellaneous judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings and summary contempt proceedings. Rule 101 and 1101 are comparable to Rule 2 of the Utah Rules of Evidence (1971), except that Rule 2 made applicable other procedural rules (i.e., civil/criminal) or applicable statutes to the extent that they relax the Rules of Evidence. In addition, Rule 2 of the Utah Rules of Evidence (1971) expressly made the rules applicable to both civil and criminal proceedings
summary contempt proceedings. Rule 101 and 1101 are comparable to Rule 2 of the Utah Rules of Evidence (1971), except that Rule 2 made applicable other procedural rules (i.e., civil/criminal) or applicable statutes to the extent that they relax the Rules of Evidence. In addition, Rule 2 of the Utah Rules of Evidence (1971) expressly made the rules applicable to both civil and criminal proceedings.
Rule 101 adopts a general policy making the Rules of Evidence applicable in all instances in courts of the state including situations previously governed by statute, except to the extent that specific statutory provisions are expressly retained. Rule 101 also rejects
Lopes v. Lopes
, 30 Utah 2d 393, 518 P.2d 687 (1974) to the extent that it permits ad hoc development of special rules of court inconsistent with these Rules of Evidence.
The position of the court in
State v. Hansen
, 588 P.2d 164 (Utah 1978) that statutory provisions of evidence law inconsistent with the rules will take precedence is rejected.

## Nearby sections

- [Utah R. Evid. 101 Rule 101. Scope; Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_UT_URE_R101.md)
- [Utah R. Evid. 102 Rule 102. Purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_UT_URE_R102.md)
- [Utah R. Evid. 103 Rule 103. Rulings on evidence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_UT_URE_R103.md)
- [Utah R. Evid. 104 Rule 104. Preliminary questions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_UT_URE_R104.md)
- [Utah R. Evid. 105 Rule 105. Limited admissibility](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_UT_URE_R105.md)
- [Utah R. Evid. 106 Rule 106. Remainder of or Related Statements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_UT_URE_R106.md)
- [Utah R. Evid. 201 Rule 201. Judicial notice of adjudicative facts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_UT_URE_R201.md)
- [Utah R. Evid. 301 Rule 301. Presumptions in general in civil actions and proceedings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_UT_URE_R301.md)
- [Utah R. Evid. 302 Rule 302. Applicability of federal law in civil actions and proceedings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_UT_URE_R302.md)
- [Utah R. Evid. 401 Rule 401. Test for Relevant Evidence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_UT_URE_R401.md)
- [Utah R. Evid. 402 Rule 402. General Admissibility of Relevant Evidence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_UT_URE_R402.md)
- [Utah R. Evid. 403 Rule 403. Excluding Relevant Evidence for Prejudice, Confusion, Waste of Time, or Other Reasons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_UT_URE_R403.md)
- [Utah R. Evid. 404 Rule 404. Character Evidence; Crimes or Other Acts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_UT_URE_R404.md)
- [Utah R. Evid. 405 Rule 405. Methods of proving character](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_UT_URE_R405.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_UT_URE_R101. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.
