Privilege in General

ARTICLE V. PRIVILEGES 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. Rule 502 FEDERAL RULES OF EVIDENCE 10 (As amended Apr. 26, 2011, eff. Dec. 1, 2011.)