The sequestration of expert witnesses falls under Michigan’s Rules of Evidence, Rule 615. MICH. R. EVID. 615 (West 2017). This rule allows the court to exclude a witness from the courtroom as to not hear another witness’s testimony when a party requests or the court orders on its own. Id. There are three exceptions of individuals that cannot be excluded and experts 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. The trial court is given the discretion to determine if a witness should be excluded when a request is made to do so. People v. Stanley, 246 N.W.2d 418 (Mich. Ct. App. 1976).
