Testimony shall be given orally under oath or affirmation by witnesses at the hearing; but the presiding officer, in the officer’s discretion, may require or permit that the direct testimony of any witness be prepared in writing and served on all parties in advance of the hearing. Such testimony may be adopted by the witness at the hearing, and filed as part of the record thereof. Unless authorized by the presiding officer, witnesses will not be permitted to read prepared testimony into the record. Except as provided in §§ 18b.54 and 18b.55, witnesses shall be available at the hearing for cross-examination.

Terms Used In 38 CFR 18b.52

  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.

[35 FR 10760, July 2, 1970, as amended at 51 FR 10386, Mar. 26, 1986]