§ 777 [Exclusion of Witnesses from Courtroom]

A judge can order witnesses to leave the courtroom while other witnesses are testifying. The idea is to keep witnesses from hearing what others say, so their own testimony isn't influenced by it. Once a witness has finished testifying, they can usually stay in the courtroom if they want.

This rule has some limits. A judge cannot kick someone out of the courtroom if they are actually a party to the case, meaning one of the people or sides involved in the lawsuit. They have a right to be there and watch the whole trial, even if they are also going to testify.

There's also a special rule for companies or other organizations that are part of the case. Since a business can't physically sit in a courtroom, it gets to pick one person, like an employee or officer, to represent it and stay in the room throughout the trial. That way, the business still has someone present to watch the proceedings, even though it isn't a person who can walk in and take a seat.