If you are a faculty member in the OSU Division of Extension and Engagement please see the OSU Extension and Engagement Unit Rule on Participation in Judicial Activities for guidance.
This protocol is to provide guidance to faculty who may be asked to serve as expert witnesses in private litigation. This guidance is to both support those faculty who consult as expert witnesses in their private capacities, and to provide assistance to faculty who may be subpoenaed in their University roles to testify as experts.
University faculty members may serve as expert witnesses in administrative or judicial proceedings in which Oregon State University is not a party, provided they do so in a manner consistent with the OSU Policy on Outside Professional Activities and consistent with any college, unit, or department restrictions on outside consulting or conflict of interest policies.
Faculty members may be subpoenaed to appear as witnesses in person or through declarations in administrative or judicial proceedings. When this happens, the faculty member must contact the dean and OSU’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC). The faculty member must not respond to inquiries regarding the appearance until a lawyer from (or engaged by) OGC has advised the faculty member. The OGC lawyer will work with the faculty member in determining whether testimony or document production is required and whether there are avenues to address the burden on the faculty member and OSU.