Rule · Federal Rules of Evidence
Fed. R. Evid. 501 — Privilege in General
Fed. R. Evid. 501
- Type
- Rule
- Source
- Federal Rules of Evidence
- Jurisdiction
- Federal
- Date
- 2026-10-22
The common law—as interpreted by United States courts in the light of reason and experience—governs a claim of privilege unless any of the following provides otherwise: • the United States Constitution; • a federal statute; or • rules prescribed by the Supreme Court. But in a civil case, state law governs privilege regarding a claim or defense for which state law supplies the rule of decision.
Citator
Fed. R. Evid. 501 — Privilege in General is in force in the current edition of the Code, and nothing recorded condemns it.
The common law—as interpreted by United States courts in the light of reason and experience—governs a claim of privilege unless any of the following provides otherwise: • the United States Constitution; • a federal statute; or • rules prescribed by the Supreme Court. But in a civil case, state law governs privilege regarding a claim or defense for which state law supplies the rule of decision.