If you are in court andthey ask you to testify against a friend; do you have to?

Answer 1

No, not without a supeona. If they just ASK, you can refuse without consequence. With a supeona, you are compelled to testify. The only exception is for self-incrimination under the 5th amendment. Bear in mind, the 5th amendment says if the answer would be witness against yourself, you, and that means in any crime, not just the one under investigation. There is nothing to exert privledged communication such as there is beween husband and wife, attorney and client, doctor and patient, clergy and confessor. And then if you do testify and later they find out you lied, then you can be held in contempt of court and possibly on a charge of purjury. Your best course of action is to do as asked and tell the truth. Note that the 5th pertains only to crimnal matters, NOT civil matters. The 5th does not protect you about answering a question about yourself in something like a divorce, which is civil rather than criminal.

Answer 2

Yes. If you are requested by the courts to testify under oath and you fail to do so, you will be held in contempt and subject to a fine and possible jail time. It doesn't matter if it is for or against a friend or someone you have never met.

Answer 3

You can always plead the 5th.

You could probably be subpoenead and then you would have to appear before the court to testify. They should let you know that you're going to be a witness beforehand.

And if you lie under oath, it's perjury and you can go to jail, just like Lil' Kim.

Answer 4

You can be compelled to by court order. The only way you can get out of it at that point is if the testimony you gave incriminates yourself. Then you could plead the 5th.

If you are a witness and weren't involved, though, you have to or you could face contempt of court charges.

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

Yes, you have to testify, otherwise you'll be in "Contempt of Court". Do you have to tell the truth? No. But that is against the law.

Answer 6

Unless you are married to that friend, yes you must testify unless that testimony may incriminate you.

Only in that case may you take the 5th.

But on taking the 5th you can be indited.

Answer 7

it must be achievable to be subpoenaed to testify in courtroom, even nevertheless it does not recommend you may communicate undesirable approximately the two occasion. All you may do is arise there and answer the questions actually, and take my recommendation in this -- do no longer badmouth every physique in touch in the listening to because of the fact it ought to injury them with the proper effect in the alternative. in case you do no longer desire to be in touch, you are able to call the legal expert that subpoenaed and tell him which you do no longer possibly desire to get entangled, and spot if it fairly is a "could" which you are going to be there. yet opportunities are high, they are going to need you to return to courtroom and testify.

Answer 8

yes,the priveledge your thinking about,not to be forced to testify is for married couples,you dont have to testify against a spouse

Answer 9

Take the 5th if you had anything to do with it. Otherwise just answer the questions and let the chip fall where they may

Answer 10

uh. a couple of good answers here. but what no one is telling you is...the best way to avoid the whole problem is to not show up in court