Can you refuse to testify against your spouse in California? This is California law we are talking about, so, of course, the answer is “it depends.”
Under certain circumstances, a married person may invoke a privilege to avoid being compelled to testify against their spouse and/or to prevent their spouse from providing incriminating information against them.
Historical Origins of the Spousal Privilege
The spousal privilege is not a new concept. In fact, California courts have been analyzing the privilege, its limits, and application for centuries.
This spousal disqualification sprang from two canons of medieval jurisprudence: first, the rule that an accused was not permitted to testify in his own behalf because of his interest in the proceeding; second, the concept that husband and wife were one, and that since the woman had no recognized separate legal existence, the husband was that one. From those two now long-abandoned doctrines, it followed that what was inadmissible from the lips of the defendant-husband was also inadmissible from his wife. Trammel v. United States, 445 U.S. 40, 44 (1980); People v. Sinohui, 28 Cal. 4th 205, 210 (2002).
Whether such rationales still hold true is up for debate, as even the U.S. Supreme Court acknowledges that “[w]hen one spouse is willing to testify against the other in a criminal proceeding—whatever the motivation—their relationship is almost certainly in disrepair; there is probably little in the way of marital harmony for the privilege to preserve. In these circumstances, a rule of evidence that permits an accused to prevent adverse spousal testimony seems far more likely to frustrate justice than to foster family peace.” Trammel v. United States, 445 U.S. 40, 44 (1980).
Spousal Testimonial Privilege vs. Marital Communication Privilege
There are two distinct marital privileges: the spousal-testimony privilege and the marital-communication privilege.
Both are evidentiary privileges, meaning they “prevent the admission of relevant and otherwise admissible evidence [including witness testimony].” People v. Sinohui, 28 Cal. 4th 205, 212, 47 P.3d 629, 633 (2002).
Spousal Testimony Privileges – Avoid Testifying Against Your Spouse
The spousal testimonial privilege is split up into two statutes in California.
California Evidence Code § 970 – Privilege Not to Testify Against Your Spouse
The first spousal testimony privilege, codified in California Evidence Code § 970, states “[e]xcept as otherwise provided by statute, a married person has a privilege not to testify against his spouse in any proceeding.” The privilege to not testify against one’s spouse is similar to the Cal. Evid. Code 940 privilege to not answer questions that might incriminate oneself in criminal activity. Compare Cal. Evid. Code § 970, with Cal. Evid. Code 940.
California Evidence Code § 971 – Privilege Not to Be Called as A Witness Against Your Spouse
The second spousal testimonial privilege, codified in California Evidence Code § 971, states “[e]xcept as otherwise provided by statute, a married person whose spouse is a party to a proceeding has a privilege not to be called as a witness by an adverse party to that proceeding without the prior express consent of the spouse having the privilege under this section unless the party calling the spouse does so in good faith without knowledge of the marital relationship.” Cal. Evid. Code § 971.
“The privilege of a married person not to be called as a witness against his spouse is somewhat similar to the privilege given the defendant in a criminal case not to be called as a witness (Section 930).” Cal. Evid. Code § 971 Law Revision Commission Comments.
What Is the Difference Between California Evidence Code Sections 971 and 971?
The differences between the two testimonial privileges come down to when they can be invoked and what testimony is excluded as a result of that invocation.
Specifically, Section 970 may be invoked in “any proceeding,” while Section 971 may be invoked only in proceedings where the non-witness spouse is a party to the action. Furthermore, Section 970 applies to testimony adverse to the non-witness spouse’s interests and cannot be invoked if favorable testimony is sought; whereas Section 971 allows a person not to be called at all to answer any questions.
For instance, “a married person may be called as a witness in a grand jury proceeding because his spouse is not a party to that proceeding, but the witness in the grand jury proceeding may claim the privilege under Section 970 to refuse to answer a question that would compel him to testify against his spouse.” Cal. Evid. Code § 971 Law Revision Commission Comments.
Spousal Privileges Can Only Be Invoked by the Spouse Called as a Witness
Both of these testimonial privileges may be invoked only by the spouse called as a witness and may not be claimed by the spouse against whom the testimony is offered. Jurcoane v. Superior Ct., 93 Cal. App. 4th 886, 896 (2001).
In application, if “A” and “B” are a married couple and B is a party to a lawsuit, A may invoke the privilege to not testify against B, and can refuse to testify at all in the lawsuit. However, B may not invoke the privilege to prevent A from testifying if A desired to do so.
Proceedings in Which the Marital Privileges be Invoked
Both of these privileges may be invoked in “proceedings”, which is defined in California Evidence Code § 901 as “any action, hearing, investigation, inquest, or inquiry (whether conducted by a court, administrative agency, hearing officer, arbitrator, legislative body, or any other person authorized by law) in which, pursuant to law, testimony can be compelled to be given.” Cal. Evid. Code § 901. There are some “proceedings” in which the martial testimony privileges does not apply. These “exceptions” are covered below.
How to Invoke the Spousal Privilege
There are a plethora of ways the privilege can be invoked. If the proceedings involve a jury trial, the preferred method of invoking the spousal testimonial privilege is outside the presence of the jury in a motion in limine.
Additional ways to invoke the privilege include: (1) redacting privileged information; (2) filing a motion to quash; and (3) by objecting each time privileged information is sought. § 1. Overview, California Guide to Criminal Evidence Ch. 4-C § 1 (2021 ed.)
Can Former Spouses Assert the Marital Privilege?
As the name and statute suggest, the spousal testimony privileges apply to currently married couples only. As such, the testimonial privileges are not available after the marriage has been terminated by divorce. However, if the couple is in the process of obtaining a divorce and a final decree of divorce has not been obtained, the testifying spouse may claim a privilege not to be a witness,” even if “the marriage became nonviable years before.” People v. Barefield, 68 Cal. App. 5th 890, (2021)(applies to the privilege under 970 and 971).
Note that the testimonial privileges afforded to spouses are available to couples living together with all the ‘trappings’ of a marriage, except the formality of a ceremony. People v. Delph, 94 Cal. App. 3d 411, 415, (Ct. App. 1979), Cal. Evid. Code § 215 (“Spouse” includes “registered domestic partner[s]”).
Exceptions to Spousal Privileges – When Married People Do Not Have a Privilege
According to California Evidence Code § 972, a married person does not have a privilege in:
(a) A proceeding brought by or on behalf of one spouse against the other spouse.
(b) A proceeding to commit or otherwise place his or her spouse or his or her spouse’s property, or both, under the control of another because of the spouse’s alleged mental or physical condition.
(c) A proceeding brought by or on behalf of a spouse to establish his or her competence.
(d) A proceeding under the Juvenile Court Law, Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 200) of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(e) A criminal proceeding in which one spouse is charged with:
(1) A crime against the person or property of the other spouse or of a child, parent, relative, or cohabitant of either, whether committed before or during marriage.
(2) A crime against the person or property of a third person committed in the course of committing a crime against the person or property of the other spouse, whether committed before or during marriage.
(3) Bigamy.
(4) A crime defined by Section 270 or 270a of the Penal Code.
(f) A proceeding resulting from a criminal act which occurred prior to legal marriage of the spouses to each other regarding knowledge acquired prior to that marriage if prior to the legal marriage the witness spouse was aware that his or her spouse had been arrested for or had been formally charged with the crime or crimes about which the spouse is called to testify.
(g) A proceeding brought against the spouse by a former spouse so long as the property and debts of the marriage have not been adjudicated, or in order to establish, modify, or enforce a child, family or spousal support obligation arising from the marriage to the former spouse; in a proceeding brought against a spouse by the other parent in order to establish, modify, or enforce a child support obligation for a child of a nonmarital relationship of the spouse; or in a proceeding brought against a spouse by the guardian of a child of that spouse in order to establish, modify, or enforce a child support obligation of the spouse. The married person does not have a privilege under this subdivision to refuse to provide information relating to the issues of income, expenses, assets, debts, and employment of either spouse, but may assert the privilege as otherwise provided in this article if other information is requested by the former spouse, guardian, or other parent.
Waiver of the Marital Testimonial Privilege
The privilege may not be invoked and is deemed waived if the witness spouse voluntarily testifies in a proceeding to which his spouse is a party, or testifies against his spouse in any type of proceeding. Cal. Evid. Code § 973. This waiver, however, applies only in the proceeding in which such testimony is given. People v. Petrilli, 226 Cal. App. 4th 814, 824 (2014).
For example, in People v. Petrilli, a wife’s testimony to the grand jury against her husband did not waive the privilege in the husband’s later trial, because the grand jury proceeding and trial are different proceedings.
The privilege is also deemed waived if either spouse brings or defends a civil proceeding “for the immediate benefit of his spouse or of himself and his spouse.” Cal. Evid. Code § 973. Immediate Benefit “has been held to mean a person who would have an immediate right to the amount recovered or some portion of it as soon as it was recovered by the nominal plaintiff. ” Waters v. Superior Ct. of Los Angeles Cty., 58 Cal. 2d 885, 897 (1962).
Marital Communication Privilege
The marital communication privilege, codified in California Evidence Code § 980, states “a spouse . . . whether or not a party, has a privilege during the marital or domestic partnership relationship and afterwards to refuse to disclose, and to prevent another from disclosing, a communication if he or she claims the privilege and the communication was made in confidence between him or her and the other spouse while they were spouses.”
In other words, spouses cannot be compelled to testify about private communications that occurred between the spouses during their marital relationship.
Who May Invoke the Marital Communication Privilege?
This privilege applies to couples in a valid marriage or domestic partnership and lasts as long as there is a living spouse to assert it. § 2. Marital-communications privilege, O’Connor’s California Practice * Civil Pretrial Ch. 6-D § 2 (2021 ed.); see See Evid. C. §§ 215, 980; People v. Catlin 26 Cal.4th 81, 130 (2001).
Unlike the spousal testimony privileges, the marital communication privilege can be asserted after the spousal relationship is terminated by death, divorce, or annulment. People v. Dorsey, 46 Cal. App. 3d 706, 717 (Ct. App. 1975)
Under Section 980, both spouses are the holders of the privilege and either spouse may claim it. Cal. Evid. Code § 980 Law Revision Commission Comments
How to Invoke the Marital Communication Privilege
To invoke the marital communication privilege to exclude evidence, the following requirements must be met:
- The evidence to be excluded by this privilege is a communication;
- The communication was between two people who, at the time of the communication, were in a valid marriage or domestic partnership; and
- The communication was made in confidence.
1. Communication
Communication pertains only to oral or written verbal expressions. People v. Cleveland, 32 Cal. 4th 704, 743 (2004). This includes video recordings, such as tapes. Rubio v. Superior Ct., 202 Cal. App. 3d 1343, 1348 (Ct. App. 1988).
However “acts of the spouses committed in each other’s presence do not constitute communications.” Nor does physical facts which are observed. For example, a wife observing her husband wearing a watch and possessing cocaine does not constitute communication. People v. Cleveland, supra. at 743.
2. Between Spouses
The term “spouse” only encompasses people in a valid marriage or domestic partnership. People v. Catlin (2001) 109 Cal.Rptr.2d 31. Registered domestic partners have the same rights, protections, and benefits, and are subject to the same responsibilities, obligations, and duties under law, as are granted to and imposed on spouses. Fam. C. § 297.5(a).
A marriage may be invalid because one person failed to legally dissolve a prior marriage. See People v. Gallego 52 Cal.3d 115, 176–77 (1990).
3. In Confidence
“To make a communication in confidence, one must [1] intend nondisclosure, and [2] have a reasonable expectation of privacy.” People v. Bryant (2014) 60 Cal.4th 335, 420.
Factors to consider when assessing whether a spouse intended nondisclosure includes the spouse’s conduct and nature or substance of the communication. Communication between people in “marital or domestic partnership” is presumed to have been made in confidence, and “[t]he opponent has the burden to prove otherwise by a preponderance of the evidence. People v. Bryant, Smith & Wheeler, 60 Cal. 4th 335, 420 (2014), as modified on denial of reh’g (Oct. 1, 2014); Evid. C. § 917(a).
For the communication to be made with an objectively reasonable expectation of privacy, the communication must be made in a place and manner that makes it reasonable to assume the communication will not be overheard. § 2. Marital-communications privilege, O’Connor’s California Practice * Civil Pretrial Ch. 6-D § 2 (2021 ed.). If there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, the marital-communications privilege applies even if the communication is overheard. To show that spouses have no reasonable expectation of privacy, it may be insufficient to only show the mere possibility of being overheard, without also proving that the spouse knows about this possibility. People v. Johnson 233 Cal.App.3d 425, 438 (6th Dist.1991).
Exceptions to the Marital Communication Privilege
There is no privilege:
- If the communication was made, in whole or in part, to enable or aid anyone to commit or plan to commit a crime or a fraud. Cal. Evid. Code § 981.
- In a proceeding to commit either spouse or otherwise place him or his property, or both, under the control of another because of his alleged mental or physical condition. Cal. Evid. Code § 982.
- In a proceeding brought by or on behalf of either spouse to establish his competence. Cal. Evid. Code § 983.
- In a proceeding brought by or on behalf of one spouse against the other spouse. Cal. Evid. Code § 984.
- In a proceeding between a surviving spouse and a person who claims through the deceased spouse, regardless of whether such claim is by testate or intestate succession or by inter vivos transaction. Cal. Evid. Code § 984.
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In a criminal proceeding in which one spouse is charged with:(a) A crime committed at any time against the person or property of the other spouse or of a child of either.(b) A crime committed at any time against the person or property of a third person committed in the course of committing a crime against the person or property of the other spouse.(c) Bigamy.(d) A crime defined by Section 270 or 270a of the Penal Code.Cal. Evid. Code § 985.
- In a criminal proceeding in which the communication is offered in evidence by a defendant who is one of the spouses between whom the communication was made. Cal. Evid. Code § 987.
- In a proceeding under the Juvenile Court Law, Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. Cal. Evid. Code § 986.
Waiver of the Marital Communication Privilege
The marital communication privilege is waived if the holder of the privilege, “without coercion, has disclosed a significant part of the communication or has consented to disclosure made by anyone.” Cal. Evid. Code § 912.
However, one spouse’s waiver of the marital-communications privilege does not affect the other spouse’s right to claim the privilege. Evid. Code. § 912(b).
Contact an Experienced Family Law Attorney in California
If you have questions about spousal privilege in an upcoming litigation or hearing, you are not alone! The attorneys at Custody Lawyer Riverside have helped countless clients litigate their cases. For a free consultation, contact Custody Lawyer Riverside online or at (909) 966-5245.