Legal Definitions - Perjury

Perjury is a serious crime that occurs when a person, after taking an oath or affirmation to tell the truth in a legal proceeding, knowingly makes a false statement about a fact that is important to the case. For a statement to be considered perjury, the individual must understand they are under oath, know that the statement they are making is untrue, and intend for that false statement to mislead the court or other legal authority.

Here are some examples illustrating perjury:

• Courtroom Testimony: During a criminal trial for robbery, a witness takes the stand and swears to tell the truth. When asked if they saw the defendant near the crime scene on the night of the incident, the witness states, "No, I did not see them anywhere near there." However, the witness *knows* this is false because they personally saw the defendant fleeing the scene.

  This is perjury because the witness, under oath, knowingly and intentionally provided false information that was directly relevant and material to the defendant's involvement in the crime.

• Deposition in a Civil Case: In a civil lawsuit concerning a car accident, one of the drivers is questioned under oath during a deposition (a sworn testimony taken outside of court). When asked about their driving record, the driver states they have never received a speeding ticket. In reality, they have multiple recent speeding violations that they deliberately concealed.

  This constitutes perjury because the driver, under oath during a legal proceeding, knowingly and intentionally made a false statement about their driving history, which could be material to assessing their liability in the accident.

• Grand Jury Investigation: A person is called to testify before a grand jury investigating allegations of public corruption. After being sworn in, they are asked if they ever received gifts or favors from a specific government official. The person denies ever receiving anything, even though they *knowingly* accepted several expensive gifts from the official in exchange for preferential treatment.

  This is perjury because the individual, under oath before a grand jury, intentionally provided false information that was significant to the ongoing criminal investigation into corruption.