Florida Statute 837.021 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research

The 2024 Florida Statutes

Title XLVI
CRIMES

Chapter 837
PERJURY

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F.S. 837.021

837.021 Perjury by contradictory statements.—

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), whoever, in one or more official proceedings, willfully makes two or more material statements under oath which contradict each other, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(2) Whoever, in one or more official proceedings that relate to the prosecution of a capital felony, willfully makes two or more material statements under oath which contradict each other, commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(3) In any prosecution for perjury under this section:

(a) The prosecution may proceed in a single count by setting forth the willful making of contradictory statements under oath and alleging in the alternative that one or more of them are false.

(b) The question of whether a statement was material is a question of law to be determined by the court.

(d) It is a defense that the accused believed each statement to be true at the time the statement was made.

(4) A person may not be prosecuted under this section for making contradictory statements in separate proceedings if the contradictory statement made in the most recent proceeding was made under a grant of immunity under s. 914.04; but such person may be prosecuted under s. 837.02 for any false statement made in that most recent proceeding, and the contradictory statements may be received against him or her upon any criminal investigation or proceeding for such perjury.

History.—s. 1, ch. 72-314; s. 56, ch. 74-383; s. 34, ch. 75-298; s. 2, ch. 85-41; s. 4, ch. 97-90; s. 1312, ch. 97-102.

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Amendments to 837.021

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 837.021

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S837.021 1 - PERJURY - CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS OFFICIAL PROCEEDING - F: T

S837.021 2 - PERJURY - PROSECUTION CAP FELONY CONTRADICT STATEMENTS - F: S

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 837.021

Total Results: 20

Octavius Ware v. State of Florida

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2015-02-15

Citation: 159 So. 3d 192

Snippet: more official proceedings. See § 837.021(1), Fla. Stat.; see also Sevin v. State

James Aren Duckett v. State of Florida

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2014-06-26

Citation: 148 So. 3d 1163, 39 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 456, 2014 WL 2882627, 2014 Fla. LEXIS 2065

Snippet: Duckett be granted a new trial; and (D) section 837.021, Florida Statutes (1997), relating to perjury by

Ware v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2013-04-16

Citation: 111 So. 3d 257, 2013 WL 1581812, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 5949

Snippet: she was prosecuted for a violation of section 837.021, Florida Statutes (2008), felony perjury by contradictory

Suarez v. Benihana National of Florida Corp.

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2012-05-09

Citation: 88 So. 3d 349, 2012 WL 1605268, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 7208

Snippet: and perjury by contradictory statements (Section 837.021, Florida Statutes).” Finding that Appellants had

State v. Mitrani

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2009-10-02

Citation: 19 So. 3d 1065, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 14717, 2009 WL 3149384

Snippet: contradictory statements in violation of section 837.021, Florida Statutes (2008). The witnesses also argued

Arzuman v. Saud

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2003-04-09

Citation: 843 So. 2d 950, 2003 WL 1824927

Snippet: element, that the statements must be material. § 837.021(1), Fla. Stat. (2000). A dismissal of claims for

State v. Calabrese

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2003-01-31

Citation: 840 So. 2d 1068, 2003 Fla. App. LEXIS 886, 2003 WL 201316

Snippet: regard to any material matter.” Similarly, section 837.021, Florida Statutes, defines perjury by contradictory

Adams v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1999-01-22

Citation: 727 So. 2d 983, 1999 WL 22281

Snippet: DAUKSCH and GOSHORN, JJ., concur. NOTES [1] § 837.021, Fla. Stat. (1997). [2] Interestingly, this subsequent

State v. Ellis

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 1998-10-15

Citation: 723 So. 2d 187, 1998 WL 716702

Snippet: 011(3), Fla. Stat. (1993) (emphasis added). Cf. § 837.021(2), Fla. Stat. (1993) ("The question of whether

Standard Jury Instructions

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 1998-07-16

Citation: 723 So. 2d 123

Snippet: None proceeding 837.021 Perjury by contradictory None

Sarrain v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1994-02-15

Citation: 632 So. 2d 1063, 1994 Fla. App. LEXIS 972, 1994 WL 45055

Snippet: immunity statutes. See § 914.04, Fla.Stat. (1993); § 837.021, Fla.Stat. (1993). *1065Accordingly, we affirm

Standard Jury Instructions-Criminal Cases

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 1992-07-02

Citation: 603 So. 2d 1175, 17 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 400, 1992 Fla. LEXIS 1220, 1992 WL 148230

Snippet: None None statements 837.021 False reports to law None

Lehman v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1992-06-26

Citation: 602 So. 2d 610, 1992 Fla. App. LEXIS 6761, 1992 WL 143636

Snippet: contradictory statements in violation of section 837.021, Florida Statutes (1989). She entered pleas of

State v. Feagle

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1992-06-11

Citation: 600 So. 2d 1236, 1992 WL 126574

Snippet: statements (Count I), in violation of section 837.021(1), Florida Statutes (1989), and served as accessory

State v. Barbuto

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1990-08-29

Citation: 571 So. 2d 484, 1990 WL 126203

Snippet: inconsistent statements in violation of section 837.021, Florida Statutes (1987), and two counts of perjury

In Re Stan. Jury Instr. in Criminal Cases

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 1989-03-30

Citation: 543 So. 2d 1205, 1989 WL 34342

Snippet: None contradictory statements 837.021 False reports to law None

Ferris v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1986-05-29

Citation: 489 So. 2d 174, 11 Fla. L. Weekly 1208

Snippet: was tacked onto his probationary term. [2] § 837.021, Fla. Stat. (1983). (1) Whoever, in one or more

State v. Moore

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 1986-04-10

Citation: 485 So. 2d 1279, 11 Fla. L. Weekly 157

Snippet: which, if any, of the statements, is not true." § 837.021(3), Fla. Stat. (1981). Accordingly, we reword the

Sevin v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1985-11-22

Citation: 478 So. 2d 521, 10 Fla. L. Weekly 2581, 1985 Fla. App. LEXIS 16981

Snippet: contradictory statements, a violation of section 837.021, Florida Statutes (1983). After the denial of his

Baker v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1985-11-21

Citation: 480 So. 2d 659, 10 Fla. L. Weekly 2574, 1985 Fla. App. LEXIS 16989

Snippet: statements in subsequent prosecution under section 837.021. We also addressed in that opinion the second part