US SUPREME COURT DECISIONS
BRONSTON V. UNITED STATES, 409 U. S. 352 (1973)
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Bronston v. United States, 409 U.S. 352 (1973)
Bronston v. United States
No. 71-1011
Argued November 15, 1972
Decided January 10, 1973
409 U.S. 352
Syllabus
Federal perjury statute, 18 U.S.C. § 1621, does not reach a witness' answer that is literally true, but unresponsive, even assuming the witness intends to mislead his questioner by the answer, and even assuming the answer is arguably "false by negative implication." A perjury prosecution is not, in our adversary system, the primary safeguard against errant testimony; given the incongruity of an unresponsive answer, it is the questioner's burden to frame his interrogation acutely to elicit the precise information he seeks. Pp. 409 U. S. 357-362.
453 F.2d 555, reversed.
BURGER, C.J.,delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.
