{"id":117393,"date":"2026-02-10T13:09:05","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T12:09:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/?page_id=117393"},"modified":"2026-02-10T13:20:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T12:20:32","slug":"district-court-in-criminal-proceedings-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/criminal-law\/district-court-in-criminal-proceedings-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Refusal to testify"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Refusal to testify<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-schutz-vor-selbstbelastung\" data-level=\"2\">Protection against self-incrimination<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-schutz-von-angehorigen-vor-strafrechtlicher-verfolgung\" data-level=\"2\">Protection of relatives from criminal prosecution<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-schutz-beruflicher-verschwiegenheit\" data-level=\"2\">Protection of professional confidentiality<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-schutz-journalistischer-quellen\" data-level=\"2\">Protection of journalistic sources<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-geheimhaltung-des-wahlverhaltens\" data-level=\"2\">Secrecy of voting behavior<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-keine-umgehung-des-aussageverweigerungsrechts\" data-level=\"2\">No circumvention of the right to refuse to testify<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-einschrankungen\" data-level=\"2\">Restrictions<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-ihre-vorteile-mit-anwaltlicher-unterstutzung\" data-level=\"2\">Your Benefits with Legal Assistance<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-faq-haufig-gestellte-fragen\" data-level=\"2\">FAQ &#8211; Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not everyone who is summoned as a witness in criminal proceedings must automatically testify. Austrian criminal procedure law recognizes the <strong>right to refuse to testify (<a href=\"https:\/\/ris.bka.gv.at\/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&amp;Gesetzesnummer=10002326&amp;Artikel=&amp;Paragraf=157&amp;Anlage=&amp;Uebergangsrecht=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u00a7 157 StPO<\/a>)<\/strong>. It protects certain individuals from endangering themselves, relatives, or particularly vulnerable relationships of trust through their testimony.  <\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-3019fe8e alignfull uagb-is-root-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-32585033\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>right to refuse to testify<\/strong> is a deliberately created protective instrument. It primarily serves to provide <strong>protection against self-incrimination<\/strong> and to <strong>safeguard statutory obligations of confidentiality<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-45819ab6\"><picture>\n\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aussageverweigerung-352x198.webp\" >\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mr-picture-small\" src=\"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aussageverweigerung.webp\" alt=\"Refusal to testify in criminal proceedings: When witnesses may remain silent, what reasons apply, and what rights the law protects.\" >\n\t<\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n    <div class=\"mr-quote mrbg clearfix\">\n        <a class=\"mr-quote-person\" href=\"\/ueber-uns\/rechtsanwalt-peter-harlander\/\" title=\"Rechtsanwalt Peter Harlander\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mr-quote-person-img\" src=\"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/themes\/harlander\/design\/ph100.webp\" width=\"100\"\n                 height=\"100\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Rechtsanwalt Peter Harlander\">\n            <span class=\"mr-quote-person-text\">\n            Peter Harlander<br>\n            <span class=\"mr-quote-person-function\">Harlander &amp; Partner Rechtsanw\u00e4lte<\/span>\n        <\/span>\n        <\/a>\n        <span class=\"mr-quote-content\">\u201eWitnesses are obliged to cooperate, but not to put themselves in legal jeopardy or destroy fundamental relationships of trust through their testimony.\u201c<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n<a class=\"mr-cta-link mr-cta-button-cal\" href=\"#h2-booking\" title=\"Free initial consultation\"><span class=\"mr-cta-link-normal\">Select your preferred appointment now:<\/span><span class=\"mr-cta-link-bold\">Free initial consultation<\/span><\/a>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-schutz-vor-selbstbelastung\">Protection against self-incrimination<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A central right to refuse to testify exists when a person would be placed in a criminally dangerous situation by giving a truthful statement.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is particularly the case if the statement threatens the <strong>initiation of an investigation against the witness himself<\/strong> or if a statement in already ongoing proceedings would lead to the person concerned <strong>incriminating himself beyond his previous responsibility<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The right to refuse to testify is <strong>not unlimited<\/strong>. If someone has been <strong>legally convicted<\/strong> of the same crime, this right no longer applies because there is no further risk of self-incrimination. The situation is different in the case of a <strong>final acquittal<\/strong>: Here, the right to refuse to testify remains in place, as a retrial is legally possible. A <strong>confession<\/strong> also means that there is no longer a right to refuse to testify, because the risk of self-incrimination has already materialized.   <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-schutz-von-angehorigen-vor-strafrechtlicher-verfolgung\">Protection of relatives from criminal prosecution<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The right to refuse to testify does not only apply if a witness would incriminate himself. It also exists if a truthful statement would expose <strong>close relatives<\/strong> to the risk of criminal prosecution.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No one must provide information as a witness that could lead to a family member being involved in an investigation or suffering criminal disadvantages. In this way, the law takes into account the special <strong>protection of family relationships<\/strong> and prevents witnesses from being placed in an irresolvable conflict of loyalty. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Relatives include, in particular, close family members such as <strong>parents, children, grandparents and grandchildren<\/strong>, as well as <strong>spouses<\/strong> and <strong>registered partners<\/strong>. This relative status remains even if a marriage has been divorced or a registered partnership has been dissolved. <strong>Life partners<\/strong> are also treated as relatives, but only as long as the cohabitation actually exists.  <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-schutz-beruflicher-verschwiegenheit\">Protection of professional confidentiality<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to protection against self-incrimination, the law also recognizes that certain professional groups rely on <strong>strict confidentiality<\/strong>. Therefore, they may remain silent about content that has been entrusted to them <strong>in the course of their profession<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This right to refuse to testify applies to, among others:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Defenders and lawyers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Patent attorneys<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Notaries<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certified Public Accountants<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They may remain silent about anything that has become known to them in this professional role. The aim is to protect the relationship of trust between client and advisor. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is also a right to refuse to testify in the area of personal care, for example for:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Specialist doctors for psychiatry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Psychotherapists and psychologists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Probation officers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mediators<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here, the protection of personal circumstances and internal conflicts, which could not be openly addressed without this protection, is paramount.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-schutz-journalistischer-quellen\">Protection of journalistic sources<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A particularly important area is the <strong>editorial secret<\/strong>. Media owners, publishers and employees of media companies or media services may refuse to testify when it comes to: <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the identity of authors, senders or informants or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>communications that have been made to them in the course of their journalistic activities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is to ensure that informants can speak to the media without fear of disclosure.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-geheimhaltung-des-wahlverhaltens\">Secrecy of voting behavior<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No one is obliged to disclose <strong>how they exercised a legally secret right to vote or vote<\/strong>. This right to remain silent protects the free and uninfluenced exercise of democratic rights. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-keine-umgehung-des-aussageverweigerungsrechts\">No circumvention of the right to refuse to testify<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The right to refuse to testify must <strong>not be circumvented<\/strong>. Inadmissible are, for example, the interrogation of assistants, employees or trainees in order to obtain protected information, as well as the seizure or confiscation of protected documents or data carriers.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The right to refuse to testify protects witnesses from unfair burdens and secures particularly sensitive relationships of trust. It is an essential component of fair criminal proceedings and prevents people from being placed in legal jeopardy or having to violate professional duties through their participation in the search for the truth. <\/p>\n    <div class=\"mr-quote mrbg clearfix\">\n        <a class=\"mr-quote-person\" href=\"\/en\/about-us\/sebastian-riedlmair\/\" title=\"Attorney Sebastian Riedlmair\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mr-quote-person-img\" src=\"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/themes\/harlander\/design\/sr100.webp\" width=\"100\"\n                 height=\"100\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Attorney Sebastian Riedlmair\">\n            <span class=\"mr-quote-person-text\">\n            Sebastian Riedlmair<br>\n            <span class=\"mr-quote-person-function\">Harlander &amp; Partner Attorneys<\/span>\n        <\/span>\n        <\/a>\n        <span class=\"mr-quote-content\">\u201eAnyone who confides in a lawyer, therapist or advisor must be able to trust that this information will not be disclosed via a witness statement.\u201c<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n<a class=\"mr-cta-link mr-cta-button-cal\" href=\"#h2-booking\" title=\"Free initial consultation\"><span class=\"mr-cta-link-normal\">Select your preferred appointment now:<\/span><span class=\"mr-cta-link-bold\">Free initial consultation<\/span><\/a>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-einschrankungen\">Restrictions<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The profession-related right to refuse to testify applies <strong>exclusively to facts<\/strong> that became known in the course of the respective professional activity. Private perceptions or information outside the exercise of the profession are not covered by this. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ihre-vorteile-mit-anwaltlicher-unterstutzung\">Your Benefits with Legal Assistance<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A lawyer checks whether and to what extent a right to refuse to testify exists and prepares specifically for an interrogation.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Especially in emotionally stressful situations, legal support provides clarity, structure and legal certainty and protects against suffering irreversible disadvantages through hasty statements.<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Support throughout the entire proceedings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clear assessment of the legal matter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protection against legal disadvantages<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a class=\"mr-cta-link mr-cta-button-cal\" href=\"#h2-booking\" title=\"Free initial consultation\"><span class=\"mr-cta-link-normal\">Select your preferred appointment now:<\/span><span class=\"mr-cta-link-bold\">Free initial consultation<\/span><\/a>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faq-haufig-gestellte-fragen\">FAQ &#8211; Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq uagb-faq__outer-wrap uagb-block-Bezirksgericht uagb-faq-icon-row uagb-faq-layout-accordion uagb-faq-expand-first-true uagb-faq-inactive-other-true uagb-faq__wrap uagb-buttons-layout-wrap uagb-faq-equal-height     \" data-faqtoggle=\"true\" role=\"tablist\"><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/harlander-partner.eu\\\/en\\\/criminal-law\\\/district-court-in-criminal-proceedings-2\\\/\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"May I refuse to testify if I would incriminate myself?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. If a truthful statement could lead to criminal proceedings being initiated against you or you further incriminate yourself in ongoing proceedings, you may refuse to testify.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Does the right to refuse to testify also apply to protect relatives?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. The right also exists if your statement would expose close relatives to the risk of criminal prosecution. The law protects witnesses from putting family members in legal difficulties through their testimony. \"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can holders of professional secrets refuse to testify?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. Certain professional groups may remain silent about facts that have been entrusted to them in the course of their profession. These include, among others, lawyers, notaries, tax advisors and persons from the psychotherapeutic and psychosocial field. \"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"May the right to refuse to testify be circumvented?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. The law expressly prohibits circumventing this right by detours, such as the seizure of protected documents or the questioning of auxiliary persons.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Does the right to refuse to testify apply to all information?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. The profession-related right to refuse to testify is limited to facts that have become known in the course of the respective professional activity. Private knowledge is not covered by this. \"}}]}<\/script><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-Bezirksgericht-Q1 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\">May I refuse to testify if I would incriminate myself?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>Yes. If a truthful statement could lead to criminal proceedings being initiated against you or you further incriminate yourself in ongoing proceedings, you may refuse to testify.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-Bezirksgericht-Q2 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\">Does the right to refuse to testify also apply to protect relatives?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>Yes. The right also exists if your statement would expose close relatives to the risk of criminal prosecution. The law protects witnesses from putting family members in legal difficulties through their testimony. <\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-Bezirksgericht-Q3 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\">Can holders of professional secrets refuse to testify?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>Yes. Certain professional groups may remain silent about facts that have been entrusted to them in the course of their profession. These include, among others, lawyers, notaries, tax advisors and persons from the psychotherapeutic and psychosocial field. <\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-Bezirksgericht-Q4 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\">May the right to refuse to testify be circumvented?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>No. The law expressly prohibits circumventing this right by detours, such as the seizure of protected documents or the questioning of auxiliary persons.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-f8a1411d \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\">Does the right to refuse to testify apply to all information?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>No. The profession-related right to refuse to testify is limited to facts that have become known in the course of the respective professional activity. Private knowledge is not covered by this. <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><a class=\"mr-cta-link mr-cta-button-cal\" href=\"#h2-booking\" title=\"Free initial consultation\"><span class=\"mr-cta-link-normal\">Select your preferred appointment now:<\/span><span class=\"mr-cta-link-bold\">Free initial consultation<\/span><\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The right to refuse to testify is a deliberately created protective instrument. It primarily serves to protect against self-incrimination and to safeguard statutory obligations of confidentiality. ","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":117479,"parent":40715,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[345],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-117393","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-criminal-law"],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aussageverweigerung.webp",1920,1080,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aussageverweigerung-100x100.webp",100,100,true],"medium":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aussageverweigerung-800x450.webp",800,450,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aussageverweigerung.webp",1920,1080,false],"large":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aussageverweigerung.webp",1920,1080,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aussageverweigerung-1536x864.webp",1536,864,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aussageverweigerung.webp",1920,1080,false],"336x":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aussageverweigerung-336x189.webp",336,189,true],"352x":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aussageverweigerung-352x198.webp",352,198,true],"woocommerce_thumbnail":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aussageverweigerung-300x300.webp",300,300,true],"woocommerce_single":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aussageverweigerung-600x338.webp",600,338,true],"woocommerce_gallery_thumbnail":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aussageverweigerung-100x100.webp",100,100,true],"yarpp-thumbnail":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aussageverweigerung-120x120.webp",120,120,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Katharina Huber","author_link":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/author\/katharina-huber\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The right to refuse to testify is a deliberately created protective instrument. It primarily serves to protect against self-incrimination and to safeguard statutory obligations of confidentiality.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/117393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117393"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/117393\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/40715"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117479"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}