Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy

I. Sworn Depositions

This section establishes the detailed rules for taking sworn depositions. It authorizes individual staff members to administer oaths and examine witnesses; requires that witnesses be designated in writing by the Commission, a Commissioner, or the General Counsel; mandates stenographic verbatim transcripts; sets notice requirements of at least three days (waivable by the witness); guarantees the right of witnesses to be accompanied by counsel who may advise on legal rights and make brief objections; requires that the nature of the inquiry be read into the record at the opening of any deposition; and provides procedures for handling refusals to answer questions, including submission of the transcript to the General Counsel for review.

II. Sworn Affidavits

This section provides the rules for obtaining sworn affidavits from designated witnesses. Members of the Commission staff are authorized to obtain sworn affidavits from witnesses who have been designated in writing by the Commission, a member of the Commission, or the General Counsel as witnesses whose testimony will be obtained in this manner. A copy of the affidavit shall be provided to the affiant or his counsel.

RESOLUTION

Adopted pursuant to Executive Order No. 11130, this resolution establishes nine rules governing hearings conducted for the taking of testimony or production of evidence. The rules require: (1) the presence of at least one Commissioner at all hearings, with the Chairman designating presiding order; (2) authority for members, agents, or agencies to administer oaths and examine witnesses; (3) advance notice of at least three days for process and papers; (4) waiver of the notice period by the witness; (5) reading of a statement of the inquiry’s nature at the opening of each hearing with copies provided to witnesses; (6) the right of witnesses to be accompanied by counsel who may advise on legal rights and make brief objections, with counsel permitted to clarify testimony at its conclusion; (7) the right of every witness to make an oral statement and file a sworn statement relevant to the hearing; (8) rulings on objections or procedural questions by the presiding Commissioner; and (9) the preparation of stenographic verbatim transcripts available for inspection or purchase by the witness or counsel at prescribed rates from the official reporter.