Rule 501 Federal Rules of Evidence

Rule 501 of the Federal Rules of Evidence is about Privilege in General. It is under Article V (Privileges) of the Rules.

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.