Law and Rules Regarding Expert Witness Sequestration in Wyoming

The sequestration of expert witnesses falls under Wyoming’s Rules of Evidence, Rule 615. Wyo. Stat. Ann. R. Evid. § 6-615 (West 2017). This rule requires the court to exclude a witness from the courtroom when requested by a party or through an order of its own. Id. The rule has three exceptions of individuals that cannot be excluded and expert witnesses fall under the third exception. Id. The third exception is for “a person whose presence is shown by a party to be essential to the presentation of his cause.” Id. Trial courts are given the discretion whether to allow exemptions from the rule even though the rule requires the court to grant motions to exclude witnesses. Gabriel v. State, 925 P.2d 234 (Wyo. 1996).