Rule 5-613 Conduct of trial.

Before a witness speaks in court, the judge has them swear or affirm that they will tell the truth. This oath makes it clear that lying on the stand can lead to legal punishment for perjury.

When it comes to evidence, criminal trials follow the same Rules of Evidence used in other types of cases. These rules control what evidence can be shown to the judge or jury, and how witnesses can be questioned. The only exception is when a specific rule for criminal cases says something different. In that situation, the criminal procedure rule takes priority.