Can the courts force you to testify against someone?
Can the courts force you to testify against someone?
In a manner of speaking, yes. You do not have the the option of being a witness if you are ordered by the court to to testify.
The way you are ordered by the court to testify is by a subpoena.
If, in response to the subpoena, you attempt to refuse to come to court and/or testify, the court can hold you in contempt of court, which means it can take certain actions to make you suffer until you agree to testify.
That means that the court can fine you for refusing to testify in compliance with the subpoena.
It also means that if you refuse to come to court the judge can not only fine you, but it can issue a bench warrant to have the police go out and find and arrest you and put you in jail until you testify.
If you lie under oath as a means of avoiding testifying truthfully, that’s perjury, and if you are caught lying under oath you can be charged with a felony, which, if you were convicted, could or would result in fines and incarceration.
Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277
Tags: contempt of court, perjury, subpoena, testify, testifying, testimony