# S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-104: Preliminary questions

> South Dakota · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-104

## Section

- **Citation:** S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-104
- **Heading:** Preliminary questions
- **Jurisdiction:** South Dakota
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** SD Code / Title 19 / Chapter 19 / Section 19-19-104

## Text

(a) In general. The court must decide any preliminary question about whether a witness is qualified, a privilege exists, or evidence is admissible. In so deciding, the court is not bound by evidence rules, except those on privilege.

(b) Relevance that depends on a fact. When the relevance of evidence depends on whether a fact exists, proof must be introduced sufficient to support a finding that the fact does exist. The court may admit the proposed evidence on the condition that the proof be introduced later.

(c) Conducting a hearing so that the jury cannot hear it. The court must conduct any hearing on a preliminary question so that the jury cannot hear it if:

(1) The hearing involves the admissibility of a confession;

(2) A defendant in a criminal case is a witness and so requests; or

(3) Justice so requires.

(d) Cross-examining a defendant in a criminal case. By testifying on a preliminary question, a defendant in a criminal case does not become subject to cross-examination on other issues in the case.

(e) Evidence relevant to weight and credibility. This section does not limit a party's right to introduce before the jury evidence that is relevant to the weight or credibility of other evidence.

Source: SL 1979, ch 358 (Supreme Court Rule 78-2, Rule 104); SDCL §§ 19-9-7 to 19-9-11; SL 2016, ch 239 (Supreme Court Rule 15-20 ), eff. Jan. 1, 2016.

## Nearby sections

- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-101 Scope--Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-101.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-102 Purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-102.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-103 Rulings on evidence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-103.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-104 Preliminary questions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-104.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-105 Limiting evidence that is not admissible against other parties or for other purposes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-105.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-106 Remainder of or related writings or recorded statements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-106.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-201 Judicial notice of adjudicative facts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-201.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-301 Presumptions in civil cases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-301.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-302 Presumptions in criminal cases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-302.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-401 Test for relevant evidence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-401.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-402 Relevant evidence generally admissible--Irrelevant evidence inadmissible](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-402.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-403 Excluding relevant evidence for prejudice, confusion, waste of time, or other reasons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-403.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-404 Character evidence--Crimes or other acts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-404.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-405 Methods of proving character](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-405.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-104. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.