ORS 40.275
Rule 510. Identity of informer

(1)

As used in this section, “unit of government” means:

(a)

The federal government or any state or political subdivision thereof;

(b)

A university that has commissioned police officers under ORS 352.121 (University police departments and officers) or 353.125 (Creation of police department and commission of police officers); or

(c)

A tribal government as defined in ORS 181A.940 (Definitions for ORS 181A.940 to 181A.946), if the information referred to in this section relates to or assists in an investigation conducted by an authorized tribal police officer as defined in ORS 181A.680.

(2)

A unit of government has a privilege to refuse to disclose the identity of a person who has furnished information relating to or assisting in an investigation of a possible violation of law to a law enforcement officer or member of a legislative committee or its staff conducting an investigation.

(3)

The privilege created by this section may be claimed by an appropriate representative of the unit of government if the information was furnished to an officer thereof.

(4)

No privilege exists under this section:

(a)

If the identity of the informer or the informer’s interest in the subject matter of the communication has been disclosed to those who would have cause to resent the communication by a holder of the privilege or by the informer’s own action, or if the informer appears as a witness for the unit of government.

(b)

If it appears from the evidence in the case or from other showing by a party that an informer may be able to give testimony necessary to a fair determination of the issue of guilt or innocence in a criminal case or of a material issue on the merits in a civil case to which the unit of government is a party, and the unit of government invokes the privilege, and the judge gives the unit of government an opportunity to show in camera facts relevant to determining whether the informer can, in fact, supply that testimony. The showing will ordinarily be in the form of affidavits, but the judge may direct that testimony be taken if the judge finds that the matter cannot be resolved satisfactorily upon affidavit. If the judge finds that there is a reasonable probability that the informer can give the testimony, and the unit of government elects not to disclose identity of the informer, the judge on motion of the defendant in a criminal case shall dismiss the charges to which the testimony would relate, and the judge may do so on the judge’s own motion. In civil cases, the judge may make any order that justice requires. Evidence submitted to the judge shall be sealed and preserved to be made available to the appellate court in the event of an appeal, and the contents shall not otherwise be revealed without consent of the unit of government. All counsel and parties shall be permitted to be present at every stage of proceedings under this paragraph except a showing in camera, at which no counsel or party shall be permitted to be present.

(c)

If information from an informer is relied upon to establish the legality of the means by which evidence was obtained and the judge is not satisfied that the information was received from an informer reasonably believed to be reliable or credible. The judge may require the identity of the informer to be disclosed. The judge shall, on request of the unit of government, direct that the disclosure be made in camera. All counsel and parties concerned with the issue of legality shall be permitted to be present at every stage of proceedings under this paragraph except a disclosure in camera, at which no counsel or party shall be permitted to be present. If disclosure of the identity of the informer is made in camera, the record thereof shall be sealed and preserved to be made available to the appellate court in the event of an appeal, and the contents shall not otherwise be revealed without consent of the unit of government. [1981 c.892 §38; 2011 c.506 §2; 2011 c.644 §§10,37; 2013 c.180 §§2,3; 2015 c.174 §2]

Source: Section 40.275 — Rule 510. Identity of informer, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors040.­html.

Notes of Decisions

Trial court properly denied defendant’s motion to disclose identity of alleged confidential informant under this provision, because person whose identity defendant sought was not unknown informant but was eye witness whose identity state had no duty to disclose because it did not intend to call person as witness. State v. Pena, 108 Or App 171, 813 P2d 1134 (1991), Sup Ct review denied

Informant’s name may be disclosed, even for in camera disclosure, only if trial court is not satisfied that information was received from informer reasonably believed to be reliable or credible. State v. Young, 108 Or App 196, 816 P2d 612 (1991), Sup Ct review denied

Trial court may disclose identity of informant only if informant provides evidence useful to defendant’s defense. State v. Wood, 114 Or App 601, 836 P2d 176 (1992), Sup Ct review denied; State v. Vatland, 123 Or App 577, 860 P2d 820 (1993), Sup Ct review denied

40.010
Rule 100. Short title 40.015
Rule 101. Applicability of Oregon Evidence Code 40.020
Rule 102. Purpose and construction 40.025
Rule 103. Rulings on evidence 40.030
Rule 104. Preliminary questions 40.035
Rule 105. Limited admissibility 40.040
Rule 106. When part of transaction proved, whole admissible 40.060
Rule 201(a). Scope 40.065
Rule 201(b). Kinds of facts 40.070
Rules 201(c) and 201(d). When mandatory or discretionary 40.075
Rule 201(e). Opportunity to be heard 40.080
Rule 201(f). Time of taking notice 40.085
Rule 201(g). Instructing the jury 40.090
Rule 202. Law that is judicially noticed 40.105
Rule 305. Allocation of the burden of persuasion 40.110
Rule 306. Instructions on the burden of persuasion 40.115
Rule 307. Allocation of the burden of producing evidence 40.120
Rule 308. Presumptions in civil proceedings 40.125
Rule 309. Presumptions in criminal proceedings 40.130
Rule 310. Conflicting presumptions 40.135
Rule 311. Presumptions 40.150
Rule 401. Definition of “relevant evidence.” 40.155
Rule 402. Relevant evidence generally admissible 40.160
Rule 403. Exclusion of relevant evidence on grounds of prejudice, confusion or undue delay 40.170
Rule 404. Character evidence 40.172
Rule 404-1. Pattern, practice or history of abuse 40.175
Rule 405. Methods of proving character 40.180
Rule 406. Habit 40.185
Rule 407. Subsequent remedial measures 40.190
Rule 408. Compromise and offers to compromise 40.195
Rule 409. Payment of medical and similar expenses 40.200
Rule 410. Withdrawn plea or statement not admissible 40.205
Rule 411. Liability insurance 40.210
Rule 412. Sex offense cases 40.211
Rule 412-1. Evidence not admissible in civil proceeding involving sexual misconduct 40.215
Rule 413. Measures and assessments intended to minimize impact of or plan for natural disaster 40.225
Rule 503. Lawyer-client privilege 40.227
Rule 503-1. Right of client to communicate with lawyer 40.230
Rule 504. Psychotherapist-patient privilege 40.235
Rule 504-1. Physician-patient privilege 40.240
Rule 504-2. Nurse-patient privilege 40.245
Rule 504-3. School employee-student privilege 40.250
Rule 504-4. Regulated social worker-client privilege 40.252
Rule 504-5. Communications revealing intent to commit certain crimes 40.255
Rule 505. Spousal privilege 40.260
Rule 506. Member of clergy-penitent privilege 40.262
Rule 507. Counselor-client privilege 40.264
Rule 507-1. Certified advocate-victim privilege 40.265
Rule 508a. Stenographer-employer privilege 40.270
Rule 509. Public officer privilege 40.272
Rule 509-1. Sign language interpreter privilege 40.273
Rule 509-2. Non-English-speaking person-interpreter privilege 40.274
Rule 509-3. Legislative branch offsite process counselor privilege 40.275
Rule 510. Identity of informer 40.280
Rule 511. Waiver of privilege by voluntary disclosure 40.285
Rule 512. Privileged matter disclosed under compulsion or without opportunity to claim privilege 40.290
Rule 513. Comment upon or inference from claim of privilege 40.295
Rule 514. Effect on existing privileges 40.310
Rule 601. General rule of competency 40.315
Rule 602. Lack of personal knowledge 40.320
Rule 603. Oath or affirmation 40.325
Rule 604. Interpreters 40.330
Rule 605. Competency of judge as witness 40.335
Rule 606. Competency of juror as witness 40.345
Rule 607. Who may impeach 40.350
Rule 608. Evidence of character and conduct of witness 40.355
Rule 609. Impeachment by evidence of conviction of crime 40.360
Rule 609-1. Impeachment for bias or interest 40.365
Rule 610. Religious beliefs or opinions 40.370
Rule 611. Mode and order of interrogation and presentation 40.375
Rule 612. Writing used to refresh memory 40.380
Rule 613. Prior statements of witnesses 40.385
Rule 615. Exclusion of witnesses 40.405
Rule 701. Opinion testimony by lay witnesses 40.410
Rule 702. Testimony by experts 40.415
Rule 703. Bases of opinion testimony by experts 40.420
Rule 704. Opinion on ultimate issue 40.425
Rule 705. Disclosure of fact or data underlying expert opinion 40.430
Rule 706. Impeachment of expert witness by learned treatise 40.450
Rule 801. Definitions for ORS 40.450 to 40.475 40.455
Rule 802. Hearsay rule 40.460
Rule 803. Hearsay exceptions 40.465
Rule 804. Hearsay exceptions when the declarant is unavailable 40.470
Rule 805. Hearsay within hearsay 40.475
Rule 806. Attacking and supporting credibility of declarant 40.505
Rule 901. Requirement of authentication or identification 40.510
Rule 902. Self-authentication 40.515
Rule 903. Subscribing witness’ testimony unnecessary 40.550
Rule 1001. Definitions for ORS 40.550 to 40.585 40.555
Rule 1002. Requirement of original 40.560
Rule 1003. Admissibility of duplicates 40.562
Rule 1003-1. Admissibility of reproduction 40.565
Rule 1004. Admissibility of other evidence of contents 40.570
Rule 1005. Public records 40.575
Rule 1006. Summaries 40.580
Rule 1007. Testimony or written admission of party 40.585
Rule 1008. Functions of court and jury
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Current through early 2024

§ 40.275’s source at oregon​.gov