Perjury, << PUR juhr ee, >> is a crime in which a person swears or affirms to tell the truth in a court of law or in an administrative or legislative proceeding, and then deliberately tells a lie. In most states, the lie is perjury only if it has a direct bearing on the issue before the court, tribunal, or legislative body. An unintentional misstatement is not considered perjury. A person is guilty of subornation of perjury when he or she causes another person to commit perjury. Subornation of perjury is also a crime. Perjury is usually considered a felony. See also Felony ; Trial .
