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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F.S. 837.021 on Casetext

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: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2015-02-15T00:00:00-08:00

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: Fla. | Date Filed: 2014-06-26T00:00:00-07:00

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…his final claim, Duckett contends that section 837.021, Florida Statutes (1997), which proscribes perjury…due process. Therefore, he argues that section 837.021 is invalid. The postconviction court denied the

Ware v. State

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2013-04-16T00:00:00-07:00

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…victim was charged with a violation of section 837.021, perjury by contradictory statements, which he …in an official proceeding, it should be section 837.021, for perjury by contradictory statements. The court

Suarez v. Benihana National of Florida Corp.

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2012-05-09T00:00:00-07:00

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: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2009-10-02T00:00:00-07:00

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…against the witness. More specifically, section 837.021(4), provides that a person may not be prosecuted

Arzuman v. Saud

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2003-04-09T00:00:00-07:00

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: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2003-01-31T00:00:00-08:00

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: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1999-01-21T23:53:00-08:00

Citation: 727 So. 2d 983

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

State v. Ellis

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 1998-10-15T00:53:00-07:00

Citation: 723 So. 2d 187

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

Standard Jury Instructions

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 1998-07-16T00:53:00-07:00

Citation: 723 So. 2d 123

Snippet: None proceeding 837.021 Perjury by contradictory None

Sarrain v. State

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1994-02-15T00:00:00-08:00

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: Fla. | Date Filed: 1992-07-02T00:53:00-07:00

Citation: 603 So. 2d 1175

Snippet: None None statements 837.021 False reports to law None

Lehman v. State

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1992-06-26T00:00:00-07:00

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: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1992-06-11T00:53:00-07:00

Citation: 600 So. 2d 1236

Snippet: statements (Count I), in violation of section 837.021(1), Florida Statutes (1989), and served as accessory…the time he made it pursuant to Florida Statutes 837.021(4)." That statute provides that in a prosecution…required denial of motion to dismiss). Section 837.021(3), Florida Statutes (1989), provides that "…relevant and material, however, because section 837.021(1), Florida Statutes (1989), makes willfulness …contradictory statements in violation of section 837.021, Florida Statutes (1989), and 2) failed to recant

State v. Barbuto

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1990-08-29T00:53:00-07:00

Citation: 571 So. 2d 484

Snippet: inconsistent statements in violation of section 837.021, Florida Statutes (1987), and two counts of perjury…law. Rader v. State, 52 So.2d 105 (Fla. 1951); § 837.021, Fla. Stat. (1987). The statements in this case

In Re Stan. Jury Instr. in Criminal Cases

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 1989-03-29T23:53:00-08:00

Citation: 543 So. 2d 1205

Snippet: None contradictory statements 837.021 False reports to law None

Ferris v. State

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1986-05-29T00:53:00-07:00

Citation: 489 So. 2d 174

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

State v. Moore

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 1986-04-09T23:53:00-08:00

Citation: 485 So. 2d 1279

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

Sevin v. State

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1985-11-22T00:00:00-08:00

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…broader issue of whether prosecution under section 837.021 is proper where the contradictory statements are…chapter 74-383, Laws of Florida (1974), section 837.021, prohibiting perjury by contradicting statements…amendment. Prior to the 1974 amendment, section 837.021 prohibited perjury by contradictory statements …Sections 53 and 56 of chapter 74-383 amended section 837.021 to prohibit contradictory statements when made

Baker v. State

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1985-11-21T00:00:00-08:00

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