The Defendent in Court

The accused is bound to tell the truth exacted of himaccording to the forms of law. If he refuses to tell what he isobliged to tell, or ifhe lies, he sins, and sins gravely. Butif he is asked what he is under no duty to tell, he may withhold ananswer, evade the issue, or appeal it. But he is never permitted tolie.

Certainly, the accused person may not seek his escapeby calumnies, uttered against his accusers for the purpose ofdiscrediting them.

A man may justly appeal his case when he is convincedthat his cause is just, and that the case has not been, or will notbe, fairly decided. But a man who knows that his sentence is, orwill be just, and who appeals to occasion delay in having itpronounced, is not justified in making the appeal.

A man justly condemned to death may not lawfully seekto defend himself by using violence against his executioners. A manunjustly condemned may rightly resist execution by every means inhis power, provided his action does not work serious harm to thecommon good.