Chapter 44 — Witnesses
2011 EDITION
WITNESSES
EVIDENCE AND WITNESSES
GENERAL PROVISIONS
44.080 Protection
of witness from improper questions and excessive detention
44.090 Protection
of witness from arrest
44.150 Service
of subpoena if witness concealed
44.240 Production
of witness confined in Department of Corrections institution
44.320 Authority
to take testimony and administer oath or affirmation
44.370 Witness
presumed to speak truth; jury judges of credibility
FEES
44.415 Fees
and mileage of witnesses
MEDIA PERSONS AS WITNESSES
44.510 Definitions
for ORS 44.510 to 44.540
44.520 Limitation
on compellable testimony from media persons; search of media persons’ papers,
effects or work premises prohibited; exception
44.530 Application
of ORS 44.520
44.540 Effect
of informant as witness
CHILDREN OR PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES AS WITNESSES
44.545 Expediting
proceedings
44.547 Notice
to court; accommodations
LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AS WITNESSES
44.550 Definitions
for ORS 44.550 to 44.566
44.552 Method
of subpoenaing law enforcement personnel; subpoena to reflect whether expert
opinion to be asked
44.554 Payment
of law enforcement personnel subpoenaed as expert witness; obligation of party
to reimburse law enforcement agency; method of payment
44.556 Prepayment
of expenses in certain cases required
44.558 Payment
for additional attendance beyond first day required in advance
44.560 Application
to subpoenas for depositions
44.562 Party
and law enforcement personnel may agree to modify time of appearance
44.564 Right
of action to recover payment due
44.566 Provisions
not applicable if public body a party
44.010
[Repealed by 1981 c.892 §98]
44.020
[Repealed by 1981 c.892 §98]
44.030
[Repealed by 1981 c.892 §98]
44.040
[Amended by 1957 c.44 §1; 1963 c.396 §16; 1971 c.512 §4; 1973 c.136 §6; 1973
c.777 §19a; 1973 c.794 §13; 1975 c.694 §1; 1975 c.726 §1; 1977 c.656 §1; 1977
c.677 §12a; 1979 c.284 §79; 1979 c.731 §2; 1979 c.744 §1a; 1979 c.769 §12b;
repealed by 1981 c.892 §98]
44.050
[Repealed by 1981 c.892 §98]
44.060
[Repealed by 1981 c.892 §98]
44.070
[Repealed by 1981 c.892 §98]
GENERAL PROVISIONS
44.080 Protection of witness from improper
questions and excessive detention. It is the
right of a witness to be protected from irrelevant, insulting or improper
questions, and from harsh or insulting demeanor. The witness is to be detained
only so long as the interests of justice require.
44.090 Protection of witness from arrest.
(1) Every person who has been, in good faith, served with a subpoena to attend
as a witness before a court, judge, commissioner, referee or other officer, is
exonerated from arrest, in a civil case, while going to the place of
attendance, necessarily remaining there and returning. The arrest of a witness
contrary to this section is void, and when willfully made is a contempt of the
court; and the officer making the arrest is responsible to the witness for
double the amount of the damages which may be assessed against the officer, and
is also liable in an action by the party serving the witness with the subpoena,
for the damages sustained by that party in consequence of the arrest.
(2)
But the officer is not liable in any way, unless the person claiming the
exemption makes, if required, an affidavit stating:
(a)
That the person has been served with a subpoena to attend as a witness before a
court, judge or other officer, specifying the same, the place of attendance and
the action, suit or proceeding in which the subpoena was issued; and
(b)
That the person has not been served by the procurement of the person with the
intention of avoiding an arrest.
(3)
The affidavit may be taken by the officer and exonerates the officer from
liability for not making the arrest, or for discharging the witness when
arrested.
(4)
The court, judge or officer before whom the attendance of the witness is
required may discharge the witness from an arrest made in violation of this
section.
44.095 [1973
c.386 §1; repealed by 1981 c.892 §98]
44.110
[Repealed by 1979 c.284 §199]
44.120
[Amended by 1969 c.383 §1; repealed by 1979 c.284 §199]
44.130
[Amended by 1969 c.383 §2; repealed by 1979 c.284 §199]
44.140
[Amended by 1977 c.789 §2; repealed by 1979 c.284 §199]
44.150 Service of subpoena if witness
concealed. A sheriff, deputy or some person
specially appointed by the sheriff, but none other, is authorized and required
to break into any building or vessel in which a witness may be concealed to
prevent the service of a subpoena, and serve it on the witness.
44.160
[Repealed by 1979 c.284 §199]
44.170
[Repealed by 1961 c.413 §1 (44.171 enacted in lieu of 44.170)]
44.171 [1961
c.413 §2 (enacted in lieu of 44.170); repealed by 1979 c.284 §199]
44.180
[Repealed by 1979 c.284 §199]
44.190
[Repealed by 1979 c.284 §199]
44.200
[Repealed by 1979 c.284 §199]
44.210
[Repealed by 1979 c.284 §199]
44.220
[Repealed by 1979 c.284 §199]
44.230
[Amended by 1973 c.836 §326; repealed by 1979 c.284 §199]
44.240 Production of witness confined in
Department of Corrections institution. (1) Whenever
a court or judge makes an order for the temporary removal and production of a
witness who is confined in a Department of Corrections institution within this
state before a court or officer for the purpose of being orally examined this
section applies. The superintendent of the institution shall, at the
institution, deliver the witness to the sheriff of the county in which the
court or judge making the order is located.
(2)
The sheriff shall give the superintendent a signed receipt when taking custody
of the witness under subsection (1) of this section. The sheriff shall be
responsible for the custody of the witness until the sheriff returns the
witness to the institution. Upon the return of the witness to the institution
by the sheriff, the superintendent shall give a signed receipt therefor to the sheriff.
(3)
When a witness is delivered to a sheriff under subsection (1) of this section,
or at any time while the witness is in the custody of the sheriff as provided
in subsection (2) of this section, the superintendent may give the sheriff a
list of persons who may communicate with the witness or with whom the witness
may communicate. Except as otherwise required by law, upon receipt of the list
and while the witness is in the custody of the sheriff, the sheriff shall
permit communication only between the witness and those persons designated by
the list.
(4)
The sheriff and neither the institution nor the Department of Corrections shall
be liable for any expense incurred in connection with the witness while the
witness is in the custody of the sheriff as provided in subsection (2) of this
section. If the witness is a party plaintiff, the sheriff shall recover costs
of the care of the witness from the plaintiff, and shall have a lien upon any
judgment for the plaintiff. In all other cases, the sheriff and not the witness
shall be entitled to the witness fees and mileage to which the witness would
otherwise be entitled under ORS 44.415 (2), or other applicable law. [1955 c.523
§1; 1969 c.502 §2; 1973 c.836 §327; 1987 c.320 §13; 1987 c.606 §6; 1989 c.980 §3a]
44.310
[Repealed by 1981 c.892 §98]
44.320 Authority to take testimony and
administer oath or affirmation. Every court,
judge, clerk of a court, justice of the peace, certified shorthand reporter as
defined in ORS 8.415 or notary public is authorized to take testimony in any
action or proceeding, as are other persons in particular cases authorized by
statute or the Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure and is authorized to administer
oaths and affirmations generally, and every such other person in the particular
case authorized. [Amended by 1979 c.284 §81; 1989 c.1055 §13; 1997 c.249 §21]
44.330
[Repealed by 1981 c.892 §98]
44.340
[Repealed by 1981 c.892 §98]
44.350 [Repealed
by 1981 c.892 §98]
44.360
[Repealed by 1981 c.892 §98]
44.370 Witness presumed to speak truth; jury
judges of credibility. A witness is presumed to speak
the truth. This presumption, however, may be overcome by the manner in which
the witness testifies, by the character of the testimony of the witness, or by
evidence affecting the character or motives of the witness, or by contradictory
evidence. Where the trial is by the jury, they are the exclusive judges of the
credibility of the witness.
44.410
[Amended by 1959 c.158 §1; repealed by 1989 c.980 §24]
FEES
44.415 Fees and mileage of witnesses.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a person is entitled
to receive $30 for each day’s attendance as a witness and mileage reimbursement
at the rate of 25 cents a mile if the person is required to travel from a place
within or outside this state in order to perform duties as a witness. Total
mileage reimbursement shall not exceed the necessary cost of transportation on
reasonably available common carriers.
(2)
In any criminal proceeding, any proceeding prosecuted by a public body or any
proceeding where a public body is a party, a person is entitled to receive $5
for each day’s attendance as a witness and mileage reimbursement at the rate of
eight cents a mile if the person is required to travel from a place within or
outside this state in order to perform duties as a witness. Total mileage
reimbursement shall not exceed the necessary cost of transportation on
reasonably available common carriers.
(3)
As used in this section, “public body” means any state, city, county, school
district, other political subdivision, municipal corporation, public
corporation and any instrumentality thereof. [1989 c.980 §2]
44.420
[Repealed by 1959 c.158 §2]
44.430
[Repealed by 1989 c.980 §24]
44.440
[Amended by 1963 c.519 §24; 1977 c.408 §1; repealed by 1981 s.s.
c.3 §141]
44.450
[Amended by 1977 c.593 §1; repealed by 1981 s.s. c.3 §141]
MEDIA PERSONS AS WITNESSES
44.510 Definitions for ORS 44.510 to
44.540. As used in ORS 44.510 to 44.540, unless
the context requires otherwise:
(1)
“Information” has its ordinary meaning and includes, but is not limited to, any
written, oral, pictorial or electronically recorded news or other data.
(2)
“Medium of communication” has its ordinary meaning and includes, but is not
limited to, any newspaper, magazine or other periodical, book, pamphlet, news
service, wire service, news or feature syndicate, broadcast station or network,
or cable television system. Any information which is a portion of a
governmental utterance made by an official or employee of government within the
scope of the official’s or employee’s governmental function, or any political
publication subject to ORS 260.532, is not included within the meaning of “medium
of communication.”
(3)
“Processing” has its ordinary meaning and includes, but is not limited to, the
compiling, storing and editing of information.
(4)
“Published information” means any information disseminated to the public.
(5)
“Unpublished information” means any information not disseminated to the public,
whether or not related information has been disseminated. “Unpublished
information” includes, but is not limited to, all notes, outtakes, photographs,
tapes or other data of whatever sort not themselves disseminated to the public
through a medium of communication, whether or not published information based
upon or related to such material has been disseminated. [1973 c.22 §2; 1979
c.190 §398; 2001 c.965 §18; 2005 c.797 §50]
44.520 Limitation on compellable testimony
from media persons; search of media persons’ papers, effects or work premises
prohibited; exception. (1) No person connected with,
employed by or engaged in any medium of communication to the public shall be
required by a legislative, executive or judicial officer or body, or any other
authority having power to compel testimony or the production of evidence, to
disclose, by subpoena or otherwise:
(a)
The source of any published or unpublished information obtained by the person
in the course of gathering, receiving or processing information for any medium
of communication to the public; or
(b)
Any unpublished information obtained or prepared by the person in the course of
gathering, receiving or processing information for any medium of communication
to the public.
(2)
No papers, effects or work premises of a person connected with, employed by or
engaged in any medium of communication to the public shall be subject to a
search by a legislative, executive or judicial officer or body, or any other
authority having power to compel the production of evidence, by search warrant
or otherwise. The provisions of this subsection, however, shall not apply where
probable cause exists to believe that the person has committed, is committing
or is about to commit a crime. [1973 c.22 §3; 1979 c.820 §1]
44.530 Application of ORS 44.520.
(1) ORS 44.520 applies regardless of whether a person has disclosed elsewhere
any of the information or source thereof, or any of the related information.
(2)
ORS 44.520 continues to apply in relation to any of the information, or source
thereof, or any related information, even in the event of subsequent
termination of a person’s connection with, employment by or engagement in any
medium of communication to the public.
(3)
The provisions of ORS 44.520 (1) do not apply with respect to the content or
source of allegedly defamatory information, in civil action for defamation
wherein the defendant asserts a defense based on the content or source of such
information. [1973 c.22 §§4,5; 1979 c.820 §2]
44.540 Effect of informant as witness.
If the informant offers the informant as a witness, it is deemed a consent to
the examination also of a person described in ORS 44.520 on the same subject. [1973
c.22 §6]
CHILDREN OR PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES AS WITNESSES
44.545 Expediting proceedings.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section or except
for good cause shown by either party, in any case where a child or a member of
the family of the child is a victim of a crime and where a child under 18 years
of age is called to give testimony, the court, consistent with the rules of
civil or criminal procedure, shall expedite the action and insure that it takes
precedence over any other. When determining whether or not to grant a
continuance, the judge shall take into consideration the age of the child and
the potential adverse impact the delay may have on the well-being of the child.
The court shall make written findings of fact and conclusions of law when
granting a continuance.
(2)
The provisions of subsection (1) of this section do not apply to any juvenile
proceeding other than the termination of parental rights. [1991 c.387 §1]
Note: 44.545
was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a
part of ORS chapter 44 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface
to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
44.547 Notice to court; accommodations.
(1) In any case in which a child under 12 years of age or a person with a
developmental disability described in subsection (2) of this section is called
to give testimony, the attorney or party who plans to call the witness must
notify the court at least seven days before the trial or proceeding of any
special accommodations needed by the witness. Upon receiving the notice, the
court shall order such accommodations as are appropriate under the
circumstances considering the age or disability of the witness. Accommodations
ordered by the court may include:
(a)
Break periods during the proceedings for the benefit of the witness.
(b)
Designation of a waiting area appropriate to the special needs of the witness.
(c)
Conducting proceedings in clothing other than judicial robes.
(d)
Relaxing the formalities of the proceedings.
(e)
Adjusting the layout of the courtroom for the comfort of the witness.
(f)
Conducting the proceedings outside of the normal courtroom.
(2)
For the purposes of this section, “developmental disability” means a disability
attributable to mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy or other
disabling neurological condition that requires training or support similar to
that required by persons with mental retardation, if either of the following
apply:
(a)
The disability originates before the person attains 22 years of age, or if the
disability is attributable to mental retardation the condition is manifested
before the person attains 18 years of age, the disability can be expected to
continue indefinitely, and the disability constitutes a substantial handicap to
the ability of the person to function in society.
(b)
The disability results in a significant subaverage
general intellectual functioning with concurrent deficits in adaptive behavior
that are manifested during the developmental period. [1995 c.804 §1]
Note: 44.547
was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a
part of ORS chapter 44 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface
to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AS WITNESSES
44.550 Definitions for ORS 44.550 to
44.566. As used in ORS 44.550 to 44.566:
(1)
“Civil case” means any proceeding other than a criminal prosecution.
(2)
“Law enforcement unit” means:
(a)
The police department of a city;
(b)
The sheriff’s department or other police organization of a county; or
(c)
A police department established by a university under ORS 352.383.
(3)
“Police officer” means an officer or member of a law enforcement unit who is
employed full-time as a peace officer by the city or county and who is
responsible for enforcing the criminal laws of this state.
(4)
“Tribunal” means any person or body before which attendance of witnesses may be
required by subpoena, including an arbitrator in arbitration proceedings. [1991
c.550 §1; 2011 c.506 §3]
Note: 44.550
to 44.566 were enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but were not added
to or made a part of ORS chapter 44 or any series therein by legislative
action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
44.552 Method of subpoenaing law
enforcement personnel; subpoena to reflect whether expert opinion to be asked.
(1) Whenever a police officer or an employee of the Department of State Police
is called as an expert witness in a civil case by a party by whom the officer
or employee is not employed, a subpoena requiring attendance may be served by
delivering a copy either to the officer or employee personally or to the
officer’s or employee’s immediate superior.
(2)(a)
A person causing a subpoena to be issued to compel the attendance of a police
officer or an employee of the Department of State Police before a tribunal
shall indicate on the face of the subpoena whether the person or the person’s
representative intends to ask the expert opinion of the officer or employee as
to any aspect of the proceedings.
(b)
A police officer or an employee of the Department of State Police may not be
required by a tribunal to give the officer’s or employee’s expert opinion on
any matter before the tribunal unless the subpoena compelling the officer’s or
employee’s presence indicates that the officer’s or employee’s expert opinion
will be asked. [1991 c.550 §2; 2011 c.547 §22]
Note: See
note under 44.550.
44.554 Payment of law enforcement
personnel subpoenaed as expert witness; obligation of party to reimburse law
enforcement agency; method of payment. (1) A police
officer or an employee of the Department of State Police who is obliged by a
subpoena issued pursuant to ORS 44.552 (2) to attend as an expert witness shall
receive from the law enforcement unit by which the officer is employed or the
Department of State Police, respectively:
(a)
The salary or other compensation to which the officer or employee is normally
entitled during the time that the officer or employee travels to and from the
place where the court or other tribunal is located and while the officer or
employee is required to remain at that place pursuant to the subpoena; and
(b)
The actual necessary and reasonable traveling expenses incurred in complying
with the subpoena.
(2)(a)
The party at whose request a subpoena is issued pursuant to ORS 44.552 (2)
compelling the attendance of a police officer or employee of the Department of
State Police as an expert witness shall reimburse the law enforcement unit by
which the officer is employed or the Department of State Police, respectively,
for the full cost to the law enforcement unit or the department incurred in
reimbursing the officer or employee as provided in subsection (1) of this
section for each day that the officer or employee is required to remain in
attendance pursuant to the subpoena.
(b)
The amount of $160 must be tendered with any subpoena issued under ORS 44.552
(2) to compel the attendance of a police officer or an employee of the
Department of State Police as an expert witness for each day that the officer
or employee is required to remain in attendance pursuant to the subpoena.
(c)
Notwithstanding paragraph (b) of this subsection, if the person causing the
issuance of a subpoena requiring the expert opinion of a police officer or an
employee of the Department of State Police makes arrangements with the officer
or the employee and with the tribunal prior to the issuance of the subpoena to
take the testimony of the officer or employee by telephone, and testimony by
telephone is otherwise allowed by the Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure, the
amount of $80 shall be tendered with the subpoena for each day that the officer
or employee is required to testify pursuant to the subpoena.
(3)
If the actual expenses are less than the amount tendered, the excess of the
amount tendered shall be refunded.
(4)(a)
If the actual expenses are greater than the amount tendered, the difference
shall be paid to the law enforcement unit by which the officer is employed or
the Department of State Police, as appropriate, by the party at whose request
the subpoena is issued.
(b)
Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection, additional amounts are not
payable unless, within seven days after the final day on which the officer or
employee appears in the proceedings, the law enforcement unit or the Department
of State Police, respectively, mails a statement to the party or to the party’s
attorney reflecting the additional amounts due.
(5)
If a court or tribunal continues a proceeding on its own motion, no additional
expert witness fee may be required prior to the issuance of a subpoena or the
making of an order directing the officer or employee to appear on the date to
which the proceeding is continued. [1991 c.550 §3; 2011 c.547 §23]
Note: See
note under 44.550.
44.556 Prepayment of expenses in certain
cases required. A police officer or an employee
of the Department of State Police who is called as an expert witness in a civil
case may demand the payment specified in ORS 44.554 (2) for one day, in
advance, and when so demanded may not be compelled to attend until the payment
is tendered. [1991 c.550 §4; 2011 c.547 §24]
Note: See
note under 44.550.
44.558 Payment for additional attendance
beyond first day required in advance. A police
officer or an employee of the Department of State Police may not be ordered to
return by the court or tribunal for subsequent proceedings beyond the day
stated in the subpoena requiring the officer or employee to give the officer’s
or employee’s expert opinion referred to in ORS 44.552 (2) or the day upon
which the officer or employee appeared under ORS 44.562 (2), unless the party
at whose request the subpoena was issued, or the party at whose request the
officer or employee is ordered to return, shall first tender to the officer or
employee the same sum required to be tendered with a subpoena in the first
instance. [1991 c.550 §5; 2011 c.547 §25]
Note: See
note under 44.550.
44.560 Application to subpoenas for
depositions. ORS 44.552, 44.554 and 44.558 apply to
subpoenas issued for the taking of depositions of police officers and employees
of the Department of State Police. [1991 c.550 §6; 2011 c.547 §26]
Note: See
note under 44.550.
44.562 Party and law enforcement personnel
may agree to modify time of appearance. A police
officer or an employee of the Department of State Police who has been
subpoenaed under ORS 44.552 and 44.560 for the purpose of giving the officer’s
or employee’s expert opinion, in lieu of attendance at the time specified in
the subpoena, may agree with the party at whose request the subpoena was issued
to appear at another time or pursuant to such notice as may be agreed upon. [1991
c.550 §7; 2011 c.547 §27]
Note: See
note under 44.550.
44.564 Right of action to recover payment
due. Whenever a police officer or an
employee of the Department of State Police appears as an expert witness under
ORS 44.550 to 44.566 and reimbursement is not made as provided for in ORS
44.550 to 44.566, the law enforcement unit by which the officer is employed or
the Department of State Police, respectively, has standing to bring an action
in order to recover the funds. [1991 c.550 §8; 2011 c.547 §28]
Note: See
note under 44.550.
44.566 Provisions not applicable if public
body a party. ORS 44.550 to 44.566 shall not apply to
any proceeding in which a public body is a party. For the purposes of this
section, “public body” has the meaning given in ORS 30.260. [1991 c.550 §9]
Note: See
note under 44.550.
44.610 [1973
c.136 §1; repealed by 1979 c.284 §199]
44.620 [1973
c.136 §§2,3; repealed by 1979 c.284 §199]
44.630 [1973
c.136 §4; repealed by 1979 c.284 §199]
44.640 [1973
c.136 §5; repealed by 1979 c.284 §199]
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