MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

What defines Subordination of Perjury?

1. Defendant lied under oath

2. Defendant tried to get another person to lie under oath

3. Defendant was wrongfully accused of lying under oath

4. Defendant refused to take the stand

The correct answer is: Defendant tried to get another person to lie under oath

Subordination of perjury refers specifically to the act of persuading or attempting to induce someone else to commit perjury, which is lying under oath. This offense does not focus solely on the individual's own lies; instead, it emphasizes the act of influencing another person to provide false testimony in a legal setting. By attempting to get another individual to lie under oath, the defendant actively engages in undermining the integrity of the judicial process. This distinction is crucial because it captures a broader aspect of dishonesty in legal proceedings, where the impact extends beyond one's own testimony to affect the testimony of another, thereby potentially skewing the outcomes of trials or legal situations. The other options highlight different situations regarding perjury or the legal process but do not accurately capture the essence of subordination of perjury. While lying under oath is indeed a serious offense, it pertains to the individual act of perjury rather than the act of influencing someone else to lie. Refusal to testify or being wrongfully accused does not fall under the category of subordination of perjury, as these actions do not involve the direct encouragement or coercion of another individual to commit perjury.