A witness who qualifies as an expert because of knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may testify as an expert if scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the judge, jury, or other factfinder to understand the evidence or determine a contested fact issue.

But there is no rigid formula for determining whether a particular witness is qualified to testify as an expert. Generally there must be a fit between the subject matter at issue and the expert witness’s familiarity with the subject matter. And this determination is made by the judge, who acts as a gatekeeper to only allow reliable expert witness testimony to be heard and considered by the judge or jury.

In Montana, as in many other jurisdictions, the admissibility of expert witness testimony is governed by rules that allow a witness with specialized knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education to provide testimony if it will help the court to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in question. The determination of whether a witness qualifies as an expert is not based on a strict formula but rather on the relevance and reliability of the expert's knowledge in relation to the subject matter of the case. The judge serves as a gatekeeper, assessing whether the proposed expert testimony is pertinent and reliable enough to be presented to the jury. This gatekeeping role involves ensuring that the expert's methods are properly applied to the facts of the case and that the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data and is the product of reliable principles and methods. The judge's decision to admit or exclude expert testimony can significantly impact the proceedings, as it determines what specialized information the jury will consider when making their decision.