Compellable Witness

Business, Legal & Accounting Glossary

Definition: Compellable Witness


Compellable Witness


Full Definition of Compellable Witness


Compellable witness In the law of evidence, a person is `compellable’ if he or she can be required to give evidence in court proceedings, even if unwilling. The question of compellability does not arise if a person is willing to give evidence, but that person must still be a Competent Witness for the party who wishes to call him or her.

There are no special rules concerning the compellability of children and persons of limited intellect although, of course, there are rules concerning the competence of such witnesses, and a witness that is not competent is never compellable.

There are a number rare and anomalous instances of non-compellability — for example, persons with diplomatic immunity are not compellable in any proceedings — but I don’t propose to deal with those here.


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Definition Sources


Definitions for Compellable Witness are sourced/syndicated and enhanced from:

  • A Dictionary of Economics (Oxford Quick Reference)
  • Oxford Dictionary Of Accounting
  • Oxford Dictionary Of Business & Management

This glossary post was last updated: 5th April, 2020 | 0 Views.