At the request of a party the court shall order witnesses excluded so that they cannot hear the testimony of other witnesses, and it may make the order of its own motion. This rule does not authorize exclusion of (1) a party who is a natural person, or (2) an officer or employee of a party which is not a natural person designated as its representative by its attorney, or (3) a person whose presence is shown by a party to be essential to the presentation of the party’s cause, or (4) a person authorized by statute to be present.
(As amended Mar. 2, 1987, eff. Oct. 1, 1987; Apr. 25, 1988, eff. Nov. 1, 1988; Nov. 18, 1988; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
ARTICLE VII. OPINIONS AND EXPERT TESTIMONY
added in current removed in current
Compared to current version (2025).
At the request of a party(a) Excluding Witnesses. At a party’s request, the court shallmust order witnesses excluded from the courtroom so that they cannot hear the testimony of other witnesses, and it may make the order of its own motion. Tother witnesses’ testimony. Or the court may do so on its own. But this rule does not authorize exclusion of ding:
(1) a party who is a natural person, or ;
(2) anone officer or employee of a party whichthat is not a natural person if that officer or employee has been designated as ithe party’s representative by its attorney, or ;
(3) any person whose presence is shown by a party shows to be essential to the presentation ofing the party’s caulaim or defense,; or
(4) a person authorized by statute to be present.
(As amended Mar. 2, 1987, eff. Oct. 1, 1987; Apr. 25, 1988, eff. Nov. 1, 1988; Nov. 18, 1988; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998b) Additional Orders to Prevent Disclosing and Accessing Testimony. An order under (a) operates only to exclude witnesses from the courtroom. But the court may also, by order:
(1) prohibit disclosure of trial testimony to witnesses who are excluded from the courtroom; and
(2) prohibit excluded witnesses from accessing trial testimony. (As amended Mar. 2, 1987, eff. Oct. 1, 1987; Apr. 25, 1988, eff. Nov. 1, 1988; Pub. L. 100-690, title VII, § 7075(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4405; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 26, 2011, eff. Dec. 1, 2011; Apr. 24, 2023, eff. Dec. 1, 2023.)
Appended Forms
ARTICLE VII. OPINIONS AND EXPERT TESTIMONY