Rule 501 Federal Rules of Evidence
Rule 501 of the Federal Rules of Evidence is about Privilege in General. It is under Article V (Privileges) of the Rules.
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.
