What does the spousal immunity privilege protect?

The spousal immunity privilege primarily protects one spouse from being compelled to testify against the other in criminal cases. This means that if one spouse is called to testify in a criminal proceeding, they have the right to refuse to provide testimony that implicates their partner. The rationale behind this privilege is to encourage spousal communication and to protect the sanctity of marriage, ensuring that one spouse is not required to betray the confidence of the other in a potential criminal matter.

While there are competencies and rules surrounding the duty to testify in civil cases and regarding financial disclosures, spousal immunity distinctly focuses on the context of criminal cases. This privilege is invoked to promote trust and private communication between spouses, thus serving an important societal interest in maintaining familial relationships.