reluctant witness
Uncooperative courtroom source
A reluctant witness is someone called to testify who resists doing so—whether from fear of retaliation, loyalty to the accused, or simply not wanting to get involved.
The term appears frequently in legal and journalistic contexts: The prosecution's case depended on a reluctant witness who had to be subpoenaed.
A reluctant witness may require legal compulsion to appear or may testify evasively once on the stand.
- hesitantSlow to act
- cold feetPre-event loss of confidence
- subpoenaWrit requiring testimony
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- under oathFormally pledged to honesty
courtroom · evasive · fearful · silent · nervous · fidgeting · oath · stand · sworn · coerced · intimidated · uncooperative · stammering · avoiding · eye contact · scared · protective · guarded
- witnesseseyewitness, testifier, deponent, affiant, attestor
- testimonyoral testimony, court testimony, sworn testimony, sworn statements, legal testimony
reluctant witnesswhistleblower
Insider who reports misconduct
informer · tipster · confidential informant · police informant · turncoat
reluctant, reluctantly, reluctance, witness, witnessed, witnessing, witnesses