Texas Rules of Evidence

Article VI · Witnesses

Rule 614. Excluding Witnesses

Effective July 2, 2026

Cite: Tex. R. Evid. 614

At a party’s request, the court must order witnesses excluded so that they cannot hear other witnesses’ testimony. Or the court may do so on its own. But this rule does not authorize excluding:

a party who is a natural person and, in civil cases, that person’s spouse;

after being designated as the party’s representative by its attorney:

in a civil case, an officer or employee of a party that is not a natural person; or

in a criminal case, a defendant that is not a natural person;

a person whose presence a party shows to be essential to presenting the party’s claim or defense; or

the victim in a criminal case, unless the court determines that the victim’s testimony would be materially affected by hearing other testimony at the trial.