Opinion ID: 1406893
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the defendant's remark to his wife was privileged.

Text: It is clear from the record that the defendant's conviction was founded on his refusal to reveal what he had said to his wife. The defendant, contending that the judge had no authority to demand this information, relies on the husband-wife privilege. That privilege is defined as follows: A husband shall not be examined for or against his wife without her consent, nor a wife for or against her husband without his consent; nor during the marriage or afterward shall either be examined without the consent of the other as to any communications made by one to the other during the marriage;. . . . (Emphasis added.) Section 13-90-107(1)(a), C.R.S. 1973. Although others were in the courtroom, there was no evidence that anyone else overheard the content of the defendant's comment to his wife. Absent such evidence, which might have shown waiver of the privilege, the circumstances justified a reasonable expectation of privacy in this husband-wife communication. While the privilege might have been claimed in more precise language if the defendant had been accompanied by counsel, his general assertion was sufficient. We hold that his comment to his wife was protected by the statutory privilege. Thus the judge had no authority, without the consent of the defendant or his wife, to order him to reveal what he had told her. One cannot be convicted of contempt for respectfully [3] declining to comply with an order which is beyond the court's authority. Pomeranz v. District Court, 74 Colo. 58, 218 P. 742 (1923) (defendant's refusal to obey order to deliver property to receiver not contempt where court had no authority to so order). See also Arkansas Valley Sugar Beet & Irrigated Land Co. v. Lubers, 72 Colo. 513, 212 P. 848 (1923) (refusal to obey void decree); Newman v. Bullock, 23 Colo. 217, 222, 47 P. 379, 381 (1896) (void decree disobeyed); Smith v. People, 2 Colo.App. 99, 29 P. 924 (1892) (refusal to obey void injunction). The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded to the district court with instructions to dismiss.