FEDERAL RULES OF EVIDENCE
Effective July 1, 1975, as amended to December 1, 2007
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Article V  Privileges (Fed. Rules Evid. 501)

        Rule 501     General Rule

FEDERAL RULES OF EVIDENCE
Effective July 1, 1975, as amended to December 1, 2007

Rule 501    General Rule

Except as otherwise required by the Constitution of the United States or provided by Act of Congress or in rules prescribed by the Supreme Court pursuant to statutory authority, the privilege of a witness, person, government, State, or political subdivision thereof shall be governed by the principles of the common law as they may be interpreted by the courts of the United States in the light of reason and experience. However, in civil actions and proceedings, with respect to an element of a claim or defense as to which State law supplies the rule of decision, the privilege of a witness, person, government, State, or political subdivision thereof shall be determined in accordance with State law.

History:

(Jan. 2, 1975, P.L. 93-595, § 1, 88 Stat. 1933.)

See also FORECITE National™ 25.16.14 [Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege: No "Dangerous Patient" Exception].