Rule 5.615 Excluding witnesses

When a trial happens, either side can ask the judge to keep witnesses out of the courtroom until it's their turn to testify. The judge can also decide to do this without anyone asking. The idea is to stop witnesses from hearing what others say, so their testimony stays honest and isn't shaped by what they heard someone else say on the stand.

But there are some people the judge cannot kick out, even if a party asks. A person who is directly involved in the case cannot be excluded. If a business or organization is part of the case, that group can pick one employee or officer to stay in the courtroom and represent them, even if that person will also testify.

The judge also has to let someone stay if a party can show that person is truly needed to help present their case, like an expert who needs to hear testimony to give useful opinions later. And if a law specifically says a certain person has the right to be there, the judge cannot remove them either.