The sequestration of expert witnesses falls under Indiana’s Rules of Evidence, Rule 615. IND. CODE ANN. § 34-6-615 (West 2017). This rule requires that if requested by a party, the court must exclude a witness from the courtroom as to not hear the testimony of other witnesses. Id. The court can also order the exclusion of a witness on its own. Id. There are three exceptions to the rule, and expert witnesses fall under the third exception. Id. The third exception is for “a person whose presence a party shows to be essential to presenting the party’s claim or defense.” Id. In order to show that a witness is essential enough to fall into the exclusion, the witness “must have such specialized expertise or intimate knowledge of the facts of the case that a party’s attorney could not effectively function without the presence and aid of the witness.” Stafford v. State, 736 N.E.2d 326 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000).
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