Perjury
You always should and must tell the truth when you appear in a courtroom. Otherwise, our system of justice does not work, and a lie you tell may be considered perjury.
When you take the witness stand and give testimony in a courtroom, you take an oath and swear to tell the truth – nothing, but the truth and the whole truth. However, if you purposefully lie or give false testimony under oath, you commit perjury. Under the law in the State of Tennessee and elsewhere, perjury is a serious criminal offense.
Perjury takes various forms. For instance, some individuals give testimony about other individuals’ whereabouts during the time when alleged crimes took place; they say that the other persons were at one place during the time of the crimes when actually the other persons were elsewhere. In addition, some people state in sworn and signed affidavits that their income is much lower than it really is.
If you commit perjury, you face serious consequences. If you are convicted of committing perjury, you face fines and incarceration. You also could lose your job or license.
Few individuals who commit perjury actually face charges; perjury is not always easy to prove. Nevertheless, remember: Telling the truth in court and under oath is always best.
If you have questions and/or concerns about testifying, evidence, or possible perjury, talk to a lawyer. To learn more, to have your questions answered, and to have your concerns addressed, contact Nashville Attorney Perry A. Craft.
Perry A. Craft has dedicated his life to helping people in need. He has tried, settled, or resolved numerous civil and criminal cases in State and Federal courts, and has represented teachers and administrators before school boards, administrative judges, and the state Board of Education. Learn more about Attorney Craft.