How Long Can A Judge Detain You If You Refuse To Swear?

Question

In this case, you are only acting as a witness but you refuse to be forced to swear as you are not a criminal and have nothing to do with the crime.

So the judge can detain you but for how long. They can't detain you forever as you have not made a crime.

Answer 1

if he/she finds you in contempt of court. you can be held for ever or until you are no loner in contempt of court. just affirm that you will tell the truth and state why.

Answer 2

That's where you are wrong. You are in contempt of court. The judge can make a reasonable request and detain you indefinitely until you comply.

For example. There is a man who refused to divulge what happened to a couple million dollars in money that was in his bank account. He had withdrawn it and hidden it just before his divorce. He refused to comply. It's ten years later and he is still being held for contempt of court.

That is unlikely to happen to you. But if you act like a jackass, don't be surprised if the system really screws you good. Their power to do so is almost unlimited.

Answer 3

you do not have to swear to God, or touch the Bible.

If you refuse to state that you will "tell the truth, the whole truth", I suppose you could be found in contempt of court. You could then theoretically be detained until you are no longer in the court's contempt.

I have no idea if there is a maximum time on such a detention.

Answer 4

Refusing to cooperate with a judge's order IS a crime. It is called "Contempt of Court". I believe they can detain you until the trial is over if they want to.

Answer 5

ever heard of penalty of perjury? gos on the bottm of every job application,not god

Answer 6

think 24 hrs

Answer 7

you can affirm