Competency to Testify: Difference between revisions
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==Competency Today== | ==Competency Today== | ||
As a general rule most witnesses are presumed to be competent and able to give testimony at a trial. However, competency may be tested for each individual witness. In the U.S. Federal Courts, competency is determined on a case by case basis. | As a general rule, most witnesses are presumed to be competent and able to give testimony at a trial. However, competency may be tested for each individual witness. In the U.S. Federal Courts, competency is determined on a case-by-case basis. | ||
General requirements for competency: | |||
*'''Oath or Affirmation''' - In many courts every witness shall be required to declare that the witness will testify truthfully, by oath or affirmation administered in a form calculated to awaken the witness' conscience and impress the witness' mind with the duty to do so. If the individual does not understand the oath or affirmation, then they may be incompetent to testify.<ref>Federal Rules of Evidence - Rule 603. Oath or Affirmation</ref> | *'''Oath or Affirmation''' - In many courts every witness shall be required to declare that the witness will testify truthfully, by oath or affirmation administered in a form calculated to awaken the witness' conscience and impress the witness' mind with the duty to do so. If the individual does not understand the oath or affirmation, then they may be incompetent to testify.<ref>Federal Rules of Evidence - Rule 603. Oath or Affirmation</ref> | ||
*'''Knowledge''' - A witness is only competent to testify if they have personal knowledge of the facts | *'''Knowledge''' - A witness is only competent to testify if they have personal knowledge of the facts to which they will testify. <ref>Federal Rules of Evidence - Rule 602. Lack of Personal Knowledge</ref> | ||
Competency to testify merely acts as a gatekeeper function keeping certain unreliable witness out of court. That is to say, a competent witness is not automatically reliable or material. A trier of fact (judge or jury) may still discount the testimony as weightless. | |||
==Mentally Disabled== | ==Mentally Disabled== | ||
If there is a question of mental disability | If there is a question of mental disability, it is the duty of the opposing counsel to raise the issue of the competency of the adult. If one party raises the question of a witness's competency to testify, the court may order a hearing, during which: | ||
#The witness must answer questions as to their ability to tell the truth | #The witness must answer questions as to their ability to tell the truth | ||
#The witness is asked whether | #The witness is asked whether he or she understands what an oath or affirmation is. | ||
#The witness is examined to determine whether | #The witness is examined to determine whether he or she understands the duty to speak the truth in terms of everyday social conduct. | ||
At the end of the hearing, the judge will determine whether the witness is competent to testify. The burden of proof is on the opposing party to prove incompetence. | At the end of the hearing, the judge will determine whether the witness is competent to testify. The burden of proof is on the opposing party to prove incompetence. | ||
==Children== | ==Children== | ||
The rules for children are similar to those | The rules for children are similar to those for the mentally disabled. However, if a child is very young they may be presumed to be incompetent to testify. For instance, in Canada a child is presumed to be incompetent if they are under the age of 14. | ||
If a child is presumed incompetent under local evidence law, the lawyer may still attempt to | If a child is presumed to be incompetent under local evidence law, the lawyer may still attempt to prove competency by overcoming: | ||
#The concern that children are easily influenced and suggestible. | #The concern that children are easily influenced and suggestible. | ||
#The presumption that a child cannot understand the moral obligation to tell the truth. | #The presumption that a child cannot understand the moral obligation to tell the truth. | ||
Even if the evidence is admissible, the trier of fact does not have to give the evidence | Even if the evidence is admissible, the trier of fact does not have to give the evidence much weight. | ||
==Spouses== | ==Spouses== | ||
Depending on the jurisdiction, spouses may be | Depending on the jurisdiction, spouses may be incompetent to testify against one another in a criminal case. In the U.S. Federal Courts this common law rule was abolished with the advent of the Federal Rules of Procedure. However, some states retain a version of the spousal incompetence rule. For instance, in New York one spouse may be incompetent to testify against another spouse if the issue is adultery. <ref> New York Civil Practice Law and Rules 4502</ref> | ||
Spouses may also be barred from testifying because of the the [[Marital Confidences and Spousal Testimonial Privileges | marital confidences privilege]] or the [[Marital Confidences and Spousal Testimonial Privileges | spousal testimonial privilege]] | Spouses may also be barred from testifying because of the the [[Marital Confidences and Spousal Testimonial Privileges | marital confidences privilege]] or the [[Marital Confidences and Spousal Testimonial Privileges | spousal testimonial privilege]]. | ||
==Judges== | ==Judges== | ||
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==Jurors== | ==Jurors== | ||
A juror should not be allowed to testify as to the facts in a trial over which she is a trier of fact. However, in certain circumstances a juror may be called to testify as to whether extraneous prejudicial information was improperly brought to the jury's attention, whether any outside influence was improperly brought to bear upon any juror, or whether there was a mistake in entering the verdict onto the verdict form. <ref>Federal Rules of Evidence - Rule 606. Competency of Juror as Witness</ref> | A juror should not be allowed to testify as to the facts in a trial over which she is a trier of fact. However, in certain circumstances, a juror may be called to testify as to whether extraneous prejudicial information was improperly brought to the jury's attention, whether any outside influence was improperly brought to bear upon any juror, or whether there was a mistake in entering the verdict onto the verdict form. <ref>Federal Rules of Evidence - Rule 606. Competency of Juror as Witness</ref> | ||
==Dead Man's Statute== | ==Dead Man's Statute== | ||
Certain jurisdictions may have enacted so-called "Dead Man's Statutes" which prevent certain parties from testifying as to business dealings with deceased individuals. | Certain jurisdictions may have enacted so-called "Dead Man's Statutes" which prevent certain parties from testifying as to business dealings with deceased individuals. | ||
No testimony in civil | No testimony is allowed in civil cases by parties, interested persons or predecessors, for the party against a dead or incompetent person about dealing with the dead or incompetent person unless the dead or incompetent person opens the door or unless the testimony is about the facts of an accident in a negligence case. | ||
'''Example:''' | '''Example:''' | ||
Revision as of 11:49, 27 July 2010
Background
At common law atheists, children, the mentally impaired, convicted felons, accomplices, parties, parties' spouses and other interested persons were considered incompetent to testify because these witnesses could either 1) not be trusted to respect the oath or 2) had an interest in the proceedings. Today most of these witnesses can testify, subject to some limitations.
Competency Today
As a general rule, most witnesses are presumed to be competent and able to give testimony at a trial. However, competency may be tested for each individual witness. In the U.S. Federal Courts, competency is determined on a case-by-case basis.
General requirements for competency:
- Oath or Affirmation - In many courts every witness shall be required to declare that the witness will testify truthfully, by oath or affirmation administered in a form calculated to awaken the witness' conscience and impress the witness' mind with the duty to do so. If the individual does not understand the oath or affirmation, then they may be incompetent to testify.[1]
- Knowledge - A witness is only competent to testify if they have personal knowledge of the facts to which they will testify. [2]
Competency to testify merely acts as a gatekeeper function keeping certain unreliable witness out of court. That is to say, a competent witness is not automatically reliable or material. A trier of fact (judge or jury) may still discount the testimony as weightless.
Mentally Disabled
If there is a question of mental disability, it is the duty of the opposing counsel to raise the issue of the competency of the adult. If one party raises the question of a witness's competency to testify, the court may order a hearing, during which:
- The witness must answer questions as to their ability to tell the truth
- The witness is asked whether he or she understands what an oath or affirmation is.
- The witness is examined to determine whether he or she understands the duty to speak the truth in terms of everyday social conduct.
At the end of the hearing, the judge will determine whether the witness is competent to testify. The burden of proof is on the opposing party to prove incompetence.
Children
The rules for children are similar to those for the mentally disabled. However, if a child is very young they may be presumed to be incompetent to testify. For instance, in Canada a child is presumed to be incompetent if they are under the age of 14.
If a child is presumed to be incompetent under local evidence law, the lawyer may still attempt to prove competency by overcoming:
- The concern that children are easily influenced and suggestible.
- The presumption that a child cannot understand the moral obligation to tell the truth.
Even if the evidence is admissible, the trier of fact does not have to give the evidence much weight.
Spouses
Depending on the jurisdiction, spouses may be incompetent to testify against one another in a criminal case. In the U.S. Federal Courts this common law rule was abolished with the advent of the Federal Rules of Procedure. However, some states retain a version of the spousal incompetence rule. For instance, in New York one spouse may be incompetent to testify against another spouse if the issue is adultery. [3]
Spouses may also be barred from testifying because of the the marital confidences privilege or the spousal testimonial privilege.
Judges
Because of the inherent conflict of interest, a judge should not be allowed to testify as to facts in a trial over which she is presiding. [4]
Jurors
A juror should not be allowed to testify as to the facts in a trial over which she is a trier of fact. However, in certain circumstances, a juror may be called to testify as to whether extraneous prejudicial information was improperly brought to the jury's attention, whether any outside influence was improperly brought to bear upon any juror, or whether there was a mistake in entering the verdict onto the verdict form. [5]
Dead Man's Statute
Certain jurisdictions may have enacted so-called "Dead Man's Statutes" which prevent certain parties from testifying as to business dealings with deceased individuals.
No testimony is allowed in civil cases by parties, interested persons or predecessors, for the party against a dead or incompetent person about dealing with the dead or incompetent person unless the dead or incompetent person opens the door or unless the testimony is about the facts of an accident in a negligence case.
Example:
"Upon the trial of an action . . . a party or a person interested in the event . . . shall not be examined as a witness in his own behalf or interest . . . concerning a personal transaction or communication between the witness and the deceased person . . . except where the executor . . . is examined in his own behalf . . . concerning the same transaction or communication." [6]
See Evidence
Notes
- ↑ Federal Rules of Evidence - Rule 603. Oath or Affirmation
- ↑ Federal Rules of Evidence - Rule 602. Lack of Personal Knowledge
- ↑ New York Civil Practice Law and Rules 4502
- ↑ Federal Rules of Evidence - Rule 605. Competency of Judge as Witness
- ↑ Federal Rules of Evidence - Rule 606. Competency of Juror as Witness
- ↑ New York Civil Practice Law and Rules 4519(a)
