Why Tell the Truth?

• Author: Daniel Small
• Profession: Is a partner in the Boston and Miami of ces of Holland & Knight LLP
• Pages: 5-8

Why tell the truth? It sounds like a simple question for any witness, but it

isn’t. We all know from our daily lives that there are times when telling the

truth can be a difcult path: it can be awkward, embarrassing, offensive,

hurtful, even just plain wrong. We understand a world where telling “white

lies” can be the best thing to do, for ourselves, and sometimes for others.

So why tell the truth so strictly when it could cause even greater harm, in

a witness environment? There are four basic reasons:

1. Lying is wrong.

2. Lying is a crime.

3. Lying is hard.

4. Lying is confusing.

1. Lying Is Wrong

To an oversimplied question, here is an oversimplied answer: lying is

wrong, so don’t do it. But it’s true. When you raise your right hand and

swear under oath to tell the truth, you put yourself out there for all to see.

Betraying that oath betrays the court, the judge, the jury, and our system

of justice. But most of all, it betrays you. It diminishes you and all that

you stand for, and many times—not always—that diminishment becomes

apparent for all to see.

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Chapter 2

Why Tell the Truth?

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