Rule 601. Competency in general; disqualification.
(a) General rule competency. Every person is competent to be a witness except as otherwise provided in these rules.
(b) Disqualification of witnesses. A person is disqualified to be a witness if the court finds that (1) the witness is incapable of expression concerning the matter so as to be understood by the judge and jury either directly or through interpretation by one who can understand the witness or (2) the witness is incapable of understanding the duty of a witness to tell the truth.
History: Ad. Sup. Ct. Ord. 12729, Dec. 29, 1976, eff. July 1, 1977; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. June 7, 1990, eff. June 7, 1990.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Chapter 10. Montana Rules of Evidence
Rule 601. Competency in general; disqualification
Rule 602. Lack of personal knowledge
Rule 605. Competency of judge as witness
Rule 606. Competency of juror as witness
Rule 607. Who may impeach; party not bound by testimony
Rule 608. Evidence of character and conduct of witness
Rule 609. Impeachment by evidence of conviction of crime
Rule 610. Religious beliefs or opinions
Rule 611. Mode and order of interrogation and presentation; re-examination and recall; confrontation
Rule 612. Writings used to refresh memory
Rule 613. Prior statements of witnesses