Multistate Bar Examination Practice Question

Under the Federal Rules of Evidence, bias is not a ground for disqualifying a witness. FRE 601 presumes that every person is competent to be a witness. Instead, a witness's credibility may be attacked by any party, per FRE 607. A witness's friendship with a party or victim is a classic form of bias, suggesting a potential motive to testify in a particular way. The proper method to address this is not to exclude the witness but to impeach their credibility through cross-examination, which allows the jury to assess the weight and credibility of the testimony in light of the potential bias. Filing a motion to disqualify is improper, sequestration under FRE 615 serves the different purpose of preventing witnesses from hearing each other, and bias is distinct from character evidence.