Whether you’ve heard it on TV or in person, you’re familiar with the right to remain silent. The police are required to read it to anyone they arrest as part of their Miranda Rights. This right allows people to refuse to talk without a lawyer present or even let their lawyer speak on their behalf.
It comes in handy when you consider the second part of the declaration, which is that anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Many people opt to keep quiet for fear of incriminating themselves if they do speak.
In some civil cases, you may be asked a question whose answer could implicate you in a crime. In that case, you could plead the Fifth and exercise your right to remain silent. However, you’d be forfeiting your right to testify at all in the case. Additionally, the court is allowed to draw negative inferences from your silence, which is something they can’t do in a criminal case.
If you’re involved in a civil case and have questions about when you have the right to remain silent, contact a defense attorney from Wirth Law Office – Okmulgee. They can advise you on how to move forward. For a low-cost consultation, call (918) 756-9600 or fill out the form at the top of this page.
