Section 556.7. Administration of Oath to Witnesses; Court Personnel

(A) Each witness to be heard by the indicting grand jury shall be sworn by the foreperson before testifying.

(B) All court personnel who are to be present during any portion of the grand jury proceedings, and all others who assist in the proceedings, shall be sworn to secrecy by the supervising judge prior to their participation.

Comment

When it is necessary to give constitutional warnings to a witness, the warnings and the oath must be administered by the supervising judge. As to warnings that the court may have to give to the witness when the witness is sworn, see, e.g., Commonwealth v. McCloskey, 443 Pa. 117, 277 A.2d 764 (1971).

Official Note

New Rule 556.7 adopted June 21, 2012, effective in 180 days.

Committee Explanatory Reports:

Final Report explaining the new rule published with the Court’s Order at 42 Pa.B. 4153 (July 7, 2012).

The provisions of this Rule 556.7 adopted June 21, 2012, effective in 180 days, 42 Pa.B. 4140.