Privilege not to Testify Against Spouse

In California court cases, marital loyalty can sometimes conflict with legal obligations. California Evidence Code § 970 allows a married person to refuse to testify against their spouse in a trial. This privilege allows you to avoid having to give evidence that would harm your spouse’s case. This privilege is different from the confidential communication privilege, which protects private conversations, because it is a privilege against compelled testimony. Its primary function is to maintain marital peace and harmony and to...