Category: ARTICLE VI. WITNESSES

RULE 615. EXCLUDING WITNESSES At a party’s request, the court must order witnesses excluded so that they cannot hear other witnesses’ testimony. Or the court may do so on its own. But this rule does not authorize excluding: (a) a party who is a natural person; (b) an officer or employee of a party that…

RULE 614. COURT’S CALLING OR EXAMINING A WITNESS (a) Calling. The court may call a witness on its own or at a party’s request. Each party is entitled to cross-examine the witness. (b) Examining. The court may examine a witness regardless of who calls the witness. (c) Objections. A party may object to the court’s…

RULE 613. WITNESS’S PRIOR STATEMENT (a) Showing or Disclosing the Statement During Examination. When examining a witness about the witness’s prior statement, a party need not show it or disclose its contents to the witness. But the party must, on request, show it or disclose its contents to an adverse party’s attorney. (b) Extrinsic Evidence…

RULE 612. WRITING USED TO REFRESH A WITNESS’S MEMORY   (a) Scope. This rule gives an adverse party certain options when a witness uses a writing to refresh memory: (1) while testifying; or (2) before testifying, if the court decides that justice requires the party to have those options. (b) Adverse Party’s Options; Deleting Unrelated…

RULE 611. MODE AND ORDER OF EXAMINING WITNESSES AND PRESENTING EVIDENCE   (a) Control by the Court; Purposes. The court should exercise reasonable control over the mode and order of examining witnesses and presenting evidence so as to: (1) make those procedures effective for determining the truth; (2) avoid wasting time; and (3) protect witnesses…

RULE 610. RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OR OPINIONS Evidence of a witness’s religious beliefs or opinions is not admissible to attack or support the witness’s credibility. Notes (Pub. L. 93–595, §1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1936; Mar. 2, 1987, eff. Oct. 1, 1987; Apr. 26, 2011, eff. Dec. 1, 2011.) Notes of Advisory Committee on Proposed…

RULE 609. IMPEACHMENT BY EVIDENCE OF A CRIMINAL CONVICTION   (a) In General. The following rules apply to attacking a witness’s character for truthfulness by evidence of a criminal conviction: (1) for a crime that, in the convicting jurisdiction, was punishable by death or by imprisonment for more than one year, the evidence: (A) must…

RULE 608. A WITNESS’S CHARACTER FOR TRUTHFULNESS OR UNTRUTHFULNESS (a) Reputation or Opinion Evidence. A witness’s credibility may be attacked or supported by testimony about the witness’s reputation for having a character for truthfulness or untruthfulness, or by testimony in the form of an opinion about that character. But evidence of truthful character is admissible…

RULE 607. WHO MAY IMPEACH A WITNESS Any party, including the party that called the witness, may attack the witness’s credibility. Notes (Pub. L. 93–595, §1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1934; Mar. 2, 1987, eff. Oct. 1, 1987; Apr. 26, 2011, eff. Dec. 1, 2011.) Notes of Advisory Committee on Proposed Rules The traditional…

RULE 606. JUROR’S COMPETENCY AS A WITNESS (a) At the Trial. A juror may not testify as a witness before the other jurors at the trial. If a juror is called to testify, the court must give a party an opportunity to object outside the jury’s presence. (b) During an Inquiry into the Validity of…

RULE 605. JUDGE’S COMPETENCY AS A WITNESS The presiding judge may not testify as a witness at the trial. A party need not object to preserve the issue. Notes (Pub. L. 93–595, §1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1934; Apr. 26, 2011, eff. Dec. 1, 2011.) Notes of Advisory Committee on Proposed Rules In view…

RULE 604. INTERPRETER An interpreter must be qualified and must give an oath or affirmation to make a true translation. Notes (Pub. L. 93–595, §1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1934; Mar. 2, 1987, eff. Oct. 1, 1987; Apr. 26, 2011, eff. Dec. 1, 2011.) Notes of Advisory Committee on Proposed Rules The rule implements…

RULE 603. OATH OR AFFIRMATION TO TESTIFY TRUTHFULLY Before testifying, a witness must give an oath or affirmation to testify truthfully. It must be in a form designed to impress that duty on the witness’s conscience. Notes (Pub. L. 93–595, §1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1934; Mar. 2, 1987, eff. Oct. 1, 1987; Apr.…

RULE 602. NEED FOR PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE A witness may testify to a matter only if evidence is introduced sufficient to support a finding that the witness has personal knowledge of the matter. Evidence to prove personal knowledge may consist of the witness’s own testimony. This rule does not apply to a witness’s expert testimony under…

RULE 601. COMPETENCY TO TESTIFY IN GENERAL Every person is competent to be a witness unless these rules provide otherwise. But in a civil case, state law governs the witness’s competency regarding a claim or defense for which state law supplies the rule of decision. Notes (Pub. L. 93–595, §1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat.…