Art. 1633 Oath or affirmation of witnesses; refusal to testify

Every witness who takes the stand must first promise to tell the truth. This can be done through a regular oath or an affirmation, whichever fits the witness's beliefs. The point of this promise is to remind the witness that they have a real duty to be honest and to take that duty seriously.

If a witness shows up to court but then refuses to answer questions without a good reason, the judge can hold them in contempt of court. This means the witness could face penalties for refusing to cooperate. Having a valid reason, like a legal privilege that protects certain information, can excuse a witness from testifying without facing this punishment. But simply not wanting to answer is not enough.