Rule 930 To the extent that such privilege exists under the Constitution of the United States or the State of California, a defendant in a criminal case has a …

If you are charged with a crime in California, you have the right to stay silent. You do not have to take the witness stand, and no one can force you to testify at your own trial.

This protection comes from both the U.S. Constitution and the California Constitution. It means the prosecutor cannot call you as a witness to testify against yourself. Choosing not to testify is your right, and the jury cannot punish you for making that choice.