Subsection I: General provisions.

The parties must not interrupt or interpellate or seek to influence the witnesses giving evidence, or address them directly, on pain of exclusion. The judge shall, if he considers it necessary, ask the questions submitted to him by the parties after the witness has been examined.

The judge may rehear the witnesses, confront them with each other or with the parties; where appropriate, he or she will conduct the hearing in the presence of a technician.

Unless they have been permitted or directed to withdraw after giving evidence, witnesses shall remain at the disposal of the judge until the close of the enquiry or the hearing. They may, until that time, make additions or changes to their evidence.

If a witness justifies that he is unable to attend on the day indicated, the judge may grant him a delay or transport himself to receive his evidence.

The judge conducting the investigation may, of his own motion or at the request of the parties, summon or hear any person whose testimony he deems useful in ascertaining the truth.

The depositions are recorded in minutes. However, if they are taken during the debates, only the names of the persons heard and the result of their depositions shall be mentioned in the judgment where the case is to be tried immediately at last instance.

The minutes must mention the presence or absence of the parties, the surnames, first names, date and place of birth, place of residence and profession of the persons heard and, if applicable, the oath taken by them and their statements relating to their relationship of kinship or marriage to the parties, subordination to them, collaboration or community of interest with them. Each person heard signs the minutes of his or…

The judge shall authorize the witness, at his request, to receive any compensation to which he may be entitled.