This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
When a criminal case goes to trial in Idaho, witnesses have to testify out loud in the courtroom, in front of everyone. This means people can't just submit written statements instead of showing up to speak. The judge, the jury, the lawyers, and the defendant all get to hear the testimony directly from the witness as it happens.
There are some exceptions to this rule. A specific law, another court rule, or the Idaho Rules of Evidence might allow testimony to be handled differently in certain situations. But unless one of those exceptions applies, witnesses need to appear in person and answer questions live in the courtroom.
This rule matters because it protects the fairness of a trial. It lets the jury watch how a witness acts and responds to questions, which helps them decide if the witness is telling the truth. It also gives the defendant a chance to have their lawyer question the witness directly, instead of just reading a written statement with no opportunity to challenge it in real time.
