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Oregon Rules of Evidence

The Oregon Evidence Code applies to all courts in Oregon except for:

  • A hearing or mediation before a magistrate of the Oregon Tax Court;
  • The small claims department of a circuit court; and
  • The small claims department of a justice court.

The Oregon Evidence Code applies generally to civil actions, suits and proceedings, criminal actions and proceedings and to contempt proceedings except those in which the court may act summarily.  ORS 40.225 to 40.295 relating to privileges apply at all stages of all actions, suits and proceedings.

ORS 40.010 to 40.210 and 40.310 to 40.585 do not apply in situations such as:

  • The determination of questions of fact preliminary to admissibility of evidence when the issue is to be determined by the court under ORS 40.030.
  • Proceedings before grand juries, except as required by ORS 132.320.
  • Proceedings for extradition, except as required by ORS 133.743 to 133.857.
  • Sentencing proceedings, except proceedings under ORS 138.012 and 163.150, as required by ORS 137.090 or proceedings under ORS 136.765 to 136.785.
  • Proceedings to revoke probation, except as required by ORS 137.090.
  • Issuance of warrants of arrest, bench warrants or search warrants.
  • Proceedings relating to conditional release, security release, release on personal recognizance, or preliminary hearings.
  • Proceedings to determine proper disposition of a child in accordance with ORS 419B.325 (2) and 419C.400 (4).
  • Proceedings to determine whether a driving while under the influence of intoxicants diversion agreement should be allowed or terminated.

Table of Contents of Oregon Rules of Evidence

TITLE 4. EVIDENCE AND WITNESSES

    CHAPTER 40. EVIDENCE CODE

    GENERAL PROVISIONS  

    40.010 Rule 100. Short title. 

    40.015 Rule 101. Applicability of Oregon Evidence Code. 

    40.020 Rule 102. Purpose and construction. 

    40.025 Rule 103. Rulings on evidence. 

    40.030 Rule 104. Preliminary questions. 

    40.035 Rule 105. Limited admissibility. 

    40.040 Rule 106. When part of transaction proved, whole admissible. 

    JUDICIAL NOTICE  

    40.060 Rule 201(a). Scope. 

    40.065 Rule 201(b). Kinds of facts. 

    40.070 Rules201(c) and 201(d). When mandatory or discretionary. 

    40.075 Rule 201(e). Opportunity to be heard. 

    40.080 Rule 201(f). Time of taking notice. 

    40.085 Rule 201(g). Instructing the jury. 

    40.090 Rule 202. Law that is judicially noticed. 

    BURDEN OF PERSUASION; BURDEN OF PRODUCING EVIDENCE; PRESUMPTIONS  

    40.105 Rule 305. Allocation of the burden of persuasion. 

    40.110 Rule 306. Instructions on the burden of persuasion. 

    40.115 Rule 307. Allocation of the burden of producing evidence. 

    40.120 Rule 308. Presumptions in civil proceedings. 

    40.125 Rule 309. Presumptions in criminal proceedings. 

    40.130 Rule 310. Conflicting presumptions. 

    40.135 Rule 311. Presumptions. 

    RELEVANCY 

    40.150 Rule 401. Definition of “relevant evidence.” 

    40.155 Rule 402. Relevant evidence generally admissible. 

    40.160 Rule 403. Exclusion of relevant evidence on grounds of prejudice, confusion or undue delay. 

    40.170 Rule 404. Character evidence; evidence of other crimes, wrongs or acts. 

    40.172 Rule 404-1. Pattern, practice or history of abuse; expert testimony. 

    40.175 Rule 405. Methods of proving character. 

    40.180 Rule 406. Habit; routine practice. 

    40.185 Rule 407. Subsequent remedial measures. 

    40.190 Rule 408. Compromise and offers to compromise. 

    40.195 Rule 409. Payment of medical and similar expenses. 

    40.200 Rule 410. Withdrawn plea or statement not admissible. 

    40.205 Rule 411. Liability insurance. 

    40.210 Rule 412. Sex offense cases; relevance of victim’s past behavior or manner of dress. 

    PRIVILEGES

    40.225 Rule 503. Lawyer-client privilege. 

    40.230 Rule 504. Psychotherapist-patient privilege. 

    40.235 Rule 504-1. Physician-patient privilege. 

    40.240 Rule 504-2. Nurse-patient privilege. 

    40.245 Rule 504-3. School employee-student privilege. 

    40.250 Rule 504-4. Clinical social worker-client privilege. 

    40.252 Rule 504-5. Communications revealing intent to commit certain crimes. 

    40.255 Rule 505. Husband-wife privilege. 

    40.260 Rule 506. Member of clergy-penitent privilege. 

    40.262 Rule 507. Counselor-client privilege. 

    40.265 Rule 508a. Stenographer-employer privilege. 

    40.270 Rule 509. Public officer privilege. 

    40.272 Rule 509-1. Sign language interpreter privilege. 

    40.273 Rule 509-2. Non-English-speaking person-interpreter privilege. 

    40.275 Rule 510. Identity of informer. 

    40.280 Rule 511. Waiver of privilege by voluntary disclosure. 

    40.285 Rule 512. Privileged matter disclosed under compulsion or without opportunity to claim privilege. 

    40.290 Rule 513. Comment upon or inference from claim of privilege. 

    40.295 Rule 514. Effect on existing privileges. 

    WITNESSES

    40.310 Rule 601. General rule of competency. 

    40.315 Rule 602. Lack of personal knowledge. 

    40.320 Rule 603. Oath or affirmation. 

    40.325 Rule 604. Interpreters. 

    40.330 Rule 605. Competency of judge as witness. 

    40.335 Rule 606. Competency of juror as witness. 

    40.340 [Repealed] 

    40.345 Rule 607. Who may impeach. 

    40.350 Rule 608. Evidence of character and conduct of witness. 

    40.355 Rule 609. Impeachment by evidence of conviction of crime; exceptions. 

    40.360 Rule 609-1. Impeachment for bias or interest. 

    40.365 Rule 610. Religious beliefs or opinions. 

    40.370 Rule 611. Mode and order of interrogation and presentation. 

    40.375 Rule 612. Writing used to refresh memory. 

    40.380 Rule 613. Prior statements of witnesses. 

    40.385 Rule 615. Exclusion of witnesses. 

    OPINIONS AND EXPERT TESTIMONY 

    40.405 Rule 701. Opinion testimony by lay witnesses.  

    40.410 Rule 702. Testimony by experts. 

    40.415 Rule 703. Bases of opinion testimony by experts. 

    40.420 Rule 704. Opinion on ultimate issue. 

    40.425 Rule 705. Disclosure of fact or data underlying expert opinion. 

    40.430 Rule 706. Impeachment of expert witness by learned treatise. 

    HEARSAY 

    40.450 Rule 801. Definitions for ORS 40.450 to 40.475. 

    40.455 Rule 802. Hearsay rule. 

    40.460 Rule 803. Hearsay exceptions; availability of declarant immaterial. 

    40.465 Rule 804. Hearsay exceptions when the declarant is unavailable. 

    40.470 Rule 805. Hearsay within hearsay. 

    40.475 Rule 806. Attacking and supporting credibility of declarant. 

    AUTHENTICATION AND IDENTIFICATION

    40.505 Rule 901. Requirement of authentication or identification. 

    40.510 Rule 902. Self-authentication. 

    40.515 Rule 903. Subscribing witness’ testimony unnecessary. 

    CONTENTS OF WRITINGS, RECORDINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS  

    40.550 Rule 1001. Definitions for ORS 40.550 to 40.585. 

    40.555 Rule 1002. Requirement of original. 

    40.560 Rule 1003. Admissibility of duplicates. 

    40.562 Rule 1003-1. Admissibility of reproduction. 

    40.565 Rule 1004. Admissibility of other evidence of contents. 

    40.570 Rule 1005. Public records. 

    40.575 Rule 1006. Summaries. 

    40.580 Rule 1007. Testimony or written admission of party. 

    40.585 Rule 1008. Functions of court and jury. 

Oregon Rules of Evidence


Inside Oregon Rules of Evidence