Legal Definitions - false oath

A false oath is also known as perjury. It is when a person deliberately makes false or misleading statements while under oath. This means that they are lying while promising to tell the truth.

For example, if a witness in a court case swears to tell the truth but then lies about what they saw, they are committing perjury. Another example is if someone lies on a sworn affidavit or in a deposition.

Perjury is a serious crime and can result in fines and even jail time. It undermines the justice system and can lead to wrongful convictions or acquittals.