Albany Business Daily

How come attorneys never want their clients to testify in court?

I'm watching a court case now on Tru Tv and the client wants to testify but his attorneys are against it. If you tell the truth, whats the harm?

Public Comments

1. because 99% of the time the person charged did the crime.
2. Well if you are guilty and tell the truth then you are admitting your are guilty
3. It can open up lines of questioning for the prosecution.
4. You answered your own question. "If you tell the truth". If the clients are lying, or the truth is against them, that's the harm.
5. because the attorney is trying to protect the rights of his or her client
6. Because often the truth can incriminate you - leading to a loss in court. No attorney wants to lose.
7. because they haven't been trained enough in the legal ways, they may incriminate themselves the lawyer knows the laws .
8. Because then the prosecution can ask anything it wants and can slant their questions to make the defendant look suspicious. I've always heard that if the defense puts their client on the stand, they are out of options.
9. Because sometimes the truth doesn't help line the attorney's pocket.
10. Because they know most of their clients are guilty and dumb and they are afraid the prosecuting attorney will trip them up.
11. This is what I hate about lawyers and court. I feel the same way, what is to fear in the truth? I am pretty good about being honest, but some people might say something stupid that the other side could take advantage of.
12. It opens the defendant to cross examination from the prosecution. The defendant is not required to say a word weather they are guilty or innocent. Staying silent is right.
13. Beyond incriminating themselves, once they testify they open up several routs where hearsay evidence by other witnesses becomes admissible.