Do I have a right to plead the 5th as a witness against my husband in a domestic violence case?
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Do I have a right to plead the 5th as a witness against my husband in a domestic violence case?
They subpoenaed me to testify against my husband for domestic violence but we had both been out drinking
separately with our friends before the incident. I don’t remember most if the night. Can I plead the 5th to avoid
getting myself in trouble?
Asked on May 24, 2017 under Criminal Law, Virginia
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
First of all, the case may be prosecuted without your testimony if there is other strong evidence to support the charge. Since you have been subpoenaed, you must appear in court or risk being found in contempt. The fact is that a subpoena is a direct order from the court. If you ignore it a warrant for failure to appear can be issued for your arrest and you can face fines and/or jail time. While some victims try to refuse to testify by invoking their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination (i.e. "pleading the 5th"), this right can't be invoked merely because the witness doesn't want to testify. This right only applies if their testimony would cause them to incriminate themselves in some way. A witness who refuses to testify can also be held in contempt of court and arrested and jailed and/or fined. Further, in domestic violence cases, some spouse's think that they can invoke "spousal privilege"; that is the right of one spouse not to have to give testimony against the other spouse. However, the fact is that the majority of states have amended their spousal privilege laws to carve out an exception for victims of domestic violence. In other words, in such a case one spouse can be made to testify against the other spouse.
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