Top Lutherville Timonium, MD Perjury Lawyers Near You
Maryland Super Lawyers 2008-2013. Best Lawyers in America 2007-2018. "AV Rated" by Martindale-Hubbell, Highest Peer Review Rating in Legal Ability and Ethical Standards.
Baltimore Premier Criminal Defense Firm, Handling both Federal and State Cases for over 33 years, including Internet Sex Crimes.
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Maryland's Premier Criminal Lawyer & Law Firm....Super Lawyer Nominated 2013-Present
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210 W Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 100-F, Baltimore, MD 21204
Gary S. Bernstein, P.A. can help you find legal solutions for your Perjury issue. The practice serves the Lutherville Timonium, Maryland area.
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1435 Sulphur Spring Road, 1st Floor, Baltimore, MD 21227
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Get assistance for your Perjury issue in the Lutherville Timonium, Maryland area. Law Offices of Charles L. Waechter can help.
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1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
300 E Lombard St, Suite 900, Baltimore, MD 21202
614 Edmonson Ave., Catonsville, MD 21228
307 West Pennsylvania Avenue, Towson, MD 21204
303 W Pennsylvania Ave, Towson, MD 21204
111 S Calvert St, Suite 2000, Baltimore, MD 21202
10015 Old Columbia Road, Suite B-215, Columbia, MD 21046
100 Light Street, 26th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202
6510 Falls Road, Baltimore, MD 21209
100 International Dr, Suite 700, Baltimore, MD 21202
7226 Lee DeForest Drive, Suite 101, Columbia, MD 21046
250 W Pratt St, Suite 2200, Baltimore, MD 21201
6914 Holabird Avenue, Suite A, Baltimore, MD 21222-1747
120 East Baltimore Street, Suite 2500, Baltimore, MD 21202
7467 Ridge Road, Suite 100, Hanover, MD 21076
10500 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 650, Columbia, MD 21044
2310 Boston Street, Baltimore, MD 21224
125 West Street, Fourth Floor, Annapolis, MD 21401
11350 McCormick Road, EP III Suite 200, Hunt Valley, MD 21031
1 South Street, 20th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202
217 North Charles Street, 2nd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201
217 North Charles Street, 2nd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201
6100 Day Long Lane, Suite 100, Clarksville, MD 21029
Lutherville Timonium Perjury Information
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The Crime of Perjury
Perjury is the willful act of swearing a false oath or falsifying an affirmation to tell the truth during an official proceeding. For example, when a witness fails to testify at a trial truthfully, they can be charged with perjury. The state you live in will determine the specific elements of perjury. Depending on the specifics of your case an attorney can help defend you against these charges.
What Is the Definition of Perjury?
Perjury can be a difficult offense to comprehend, as many common misconceptions exist surrounding the nature of the crime given its prevalence in popular culture. Generally, perjury refers to instances in which — while under authorized oath — a person offering testimony or being questioned knowingly and intentionally makes a materially false statement.
The definition of what constitutes a material falsehood versus an immaterial falsehood pertains to the case itself. For example, lying about a potential murder weapon (type, whereabouts, who was holding it) is likely to be material — or relevant — to the case. However, making a false statement about what one served to their pet cat that day is far less likely to be judged as a material element to a murder case in which an eyewitness is being called to testify.
What Is the Difference Between Lying and Perjury?
On a superficial level, it may seem like the act of lying and the act of committing perjury are one and the same, but from a legal standpoint, there are several differences.
While lying might be a commonplace practice among humans, the telling of a falsehood is not considered to be perjury in all instances where the person being questioned is not placed under oath by an authorized public official. Lying to your spouse about where you were last night is simply relaying a falsehood, but lying to a court prosecutor about where you were last night is likely to be an example of perjury — whether you are a key witness or a suspect yourself.
People tell lies of all shapes and sizes. However, in order to qualify as perjury, a lie must be relevant — or material — to the case on trial. This is another point of differentiation from a standard lie, which often has no bearing on any greater point of relevance.
Finally, lies of omission are exempt from categorization as perjury. Perjury concerns itself with what is said, what is subscribed to and what is authorized by the person being questioned — not with what the witness did not say.
How Is Perjury Proven?
For perjury to be proven, several elements must be in play. First, the statement must be materially false, as discussed above. Second, the offender committing perjury must have knowingly, and intentionally, misled the court while under oath.
This can make proving an instance of perjury very difficult. While a material falsehood may be easy enough to prove via cross-examination and presentation of evidence, proving that a witness knowingly and intentionally misled the court can be a much more challenging bar to clear. Collecting evidence — say, in the form of text messages or emails — can be useful in proving the guilt of a potential perjurer.
Is Perjury a Felony or a Misdemeanor?
Perjury is most frequently categorized as a felony at both the federal level as well as at the state level, but exceptions do exist.
For example, in the state of New York, perjury can be classified as a misdemeanor if the lie being made under oath is nonetheless judged immaterial or irrelevant to the case at hand. Otherwise, if the lie made under oath is judged material to the case at hand, you would likely face felony charges instead.
How Much Jail Time Can You Be Sentenced to if Found Guilty of Perjury?
If found guilty of perjury in federal court, the USC allows for a sentence of up to five years imprisonment.
State laws vary greatly in terms of their sentencing guidelines and requirements, but in broad terms, punishments are determined by the severity of the charges being laid, and whether or not they are categorized as misdemeanors or as felonies. In Texas, for example, simple perjury is considered a Class A misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of one year in county jail as well as a $4,000 fine. However, aggravated perjury is a third-degree felony with a maximum penalty of 10 years in state prison and a $10,000 fine.
Whether or not perjury is considered aggravated is determined by whether the falsehood made under oath is material to the case — the same reasoning applies in the state of New York as well as many other jurisdictions.
Have You Been Charged With Perjury?
If you have been charged with perjury, you are facing serious charges. A skilled perjury attorney is the first person you should contact about your case.