General Rule

ARTICLE 5. PRIVILEGES Nothing in these rules shall be deemed to modify, or supersede existing law relating to the privilege of a witness, person, government, state or political subdivision. Committee Comment - 1977 In the enabling legislation which created the committee, the legislature specifically attempted to limit the power of the Supreme Court to promulgate rules of evidence which conflicted, modified, or superseded "Statutes which relate to the competency of witnesses to testify, found in Minnesota Statutes, sections 595.02 to 595.025"; and "Statutes which relate to the privacy of communications." Minnesota Statutes 1974, section 480.0591, subdivision 6, paragraphs (a) and (d). Rule 501 reflects the committee's recognition of these limitations. The bulk of the existing law dealing with the traditional privileges is found in Minnesota Statutes 1974, sections 595.02 to 595.025.