Rule 90.603 Disqualification of witness

A witness must meet two basic requirements to testify in court. They need to be able to communicate clearly enough to be understood, either on their own or through an interpreter. They also need to understand that they must tell the truth when testifying.

If a judge decides someone cannot meet these requirements, that person will not be allowed to testify. This can apply to anyone, including children or people with certain mental or physical conditions that affect their ability to communicate or understand their duty to be honest.