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Maine Witness (Not the Defendant) Who Takes the Fifth Amendment

State:
Maine
Control #:
ME-FEDDC-JURY-2-14
Format:
Word
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Official Pattern Jury Instructions for Criminal Cases in Federal District Court of Maine. All converted to Word format. Please see the official site for addional information. http://www.med.uscourts.gov/pattern-jury-instructions

Maine Witness (Not the Defendant) Who Takes the Fifth Amendment is a legal concept in which a witness in a trial in the state of Maine is allowed to decline to answer any questions that could potentially incriminate them. This is done by invoking their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. This legal protection applies to any witness, not just the defendant in the trial. There are several types of Maine Witnesses (Not the Defendant) Who Takes the Fifth Amendment, which include: testimonial privilege: This allows a witness to refuse to answer any questions that could potentially incriminate them or lead to their prosecution. Transactional privilege: This allows a witness to refuse to answer any questions that could potentially incriminate them or lead to their prosecution, but only if the testimony is related to the transaction in question. Marital privilege: This allows a witness to refuse to answer any questions that could potentially incriminate their spouse or lead to their prosecution. •Psychotherapist-patient privilege: This allows a witness to refuse to answer any questions related to a confidential conversation between them and their psychotherapist. •Journalist-source privilege: This allows a witness to refuse to answer any questions related to a confidential conversation between them and their source.

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FAQ

Pleading the Fifth as a Witness You also have the right to plead the Fifth when you are a witness in a federal criminal case. Much like with a defendant, a witness may refuse to answer any questions that might tend to implicate them in a crime.

Reiner, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "a witness may have a reasonable fear of prosecution and yet be innocent of any wrongdoing. The Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination serves to protect the innocent who otherwise might be ensnared by ambiguous circumstances."

Privilege Waiving: If a defendant takes the witness stand or a witness discloses self-incriminating information when answering specific questions, then the privilege is waived. Once waived, individuals cannot assert the privilege again when the prosecutor cross-examines their testimony.

(a) Privilege against self-incrimination If a person is called as a witness and it appears to the court that the testimony or other evidence being sought may tend to incriminate the witness, the court must advise the witness of the privilege against self-incrimination and of the possible consequences of testifying.

Can I plead the Fifth if subpoenaed to testify or produce documents to a congressional committee? Yes. The Supreme Court has held that the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination is available to recipients of congressional subpoenas.

Self-Incrimination The Fifth Amendment also protects criminal defendants from having to testify if they may incriminate themselves through the testimony. A witness may "plead the Fifth" and not answer if the witness believes answering the question may be self-incriminatory.

There are, however, limitations on the right against self-incrimination. For example, it applies only to testimonial acts, such as speaking, nodding, or writing. Other personal information that might be incriminating, like blood or hair samples, DNA or fingerprints, may be used as evidence.

Self-Incrimination The Fifth Amendment also protects criminal defendants from having to testify if they may incriminate themselves through the testimony. A witness may "plead the Fifth" and not answer if the witness believes answering the question may be self-incriminatory. In the landmark Miranda v.

More info

At trial, the Fifth Amendment gives a criminal defendant the right not to testify. A witness may "plead the Fifth" and not answer if the witness believes answering the question may be self-incriminatory.In the landmark Miranda v. An individual can only invoke the Fifth Amendment in response to a communication that is compelled, such as through a subpoena or other legal process. The right of a witness to refuse to testify is different than that of a defendant. Witnesses subpoenaed to testify must testify, but can plead the fifth for questions that they deem are selfincriminating. Fifth Amendment rights work differently for witnesses. A witness may not simply refuse to take the stand without recourse. While the Fifth Amendment protects against compulsion to be a witness against oneself, it is not "self executing" and absent an express demand to remain silent. A criminal defendant has the right under the Fifth Amendment privilege to decline to take the stand.

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Maine Witness (Not the Defendant) Who Takes the Fifth Amendment