South Dakota § 19-19-505 Religious privilege.

South Dakota Statutes

§ 19-19-505 — Religious privilege.

South Dakota § 19-19-505

Title 19EVIDENCE

Ch. 19-18SOUTH DAKOTA RULES OF EVIDENCE

This text of South Dakota § 19-19-505 (Religious privilege.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Dakota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-505 (2026).

Text

(a)Definitions. As used in this section:

(1)A "clergyman" is a minister, priest, rabbi, accredited Christian Science practitioner, or other similar functionary of a religious organization, or an individual reasonably believed so to be by the person consulting him;

(2)A communication is "confidential" if made privately and not intended for further disclosure except to other persons present in furtherance of the purpose of the communication.

(b)General rule of privilege. A person has a privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent another from disclosing a confidential communication by the person to a clergyman in his professional character as spiritual adviser.

(c)Who may claim privilege. The privilege may be claimed by the person, by his guardian or conservator, or by his perso

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

(a) Definitions. As used in this section: (1) A "clergyman" is a minister, priest, rabbi, accredited Christian Science practitioner, or other similar functionary of a religious organization, or an individual reasonably believed so to be by the person consulting him; (2) A communication is "confidential" if made privately and not intended for further disclosure except to other persons present in furtherance of the purpose of the communication. (b) General rule of privilege. A person has a privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent another from disclosing a confidential communication by the person to a clergyman in his professional character as spiritual adviser. (c) Who may claim privilege. The privilege may be claimed by the person, by his guardian or conservator, or by his personal representative if he is deceased. The person who was the clergyman at the time of the communication is presumed to have authority to claim the privilege but only on behalf of the communicant.