Nation IN BRIEF : NEW JERSEY : Spouse’s Testimony No Longer Banned

A legal barrier to prosecuting crimes was removed when New Jersey Gov. James J. Florio signed a bill ending spousal privilege. That was the doctrine rooted in common law that prevented the prosecution from using a wife’s testimony against her husband, or vice versa. The bill was prompted by the case of Arthur Seale, charged with the kidnap-murder of Exxon executive Sidney Reso. The testimony of Seale’s wife would have been crucial had Seale not pleaded guilty. Reso had a history of heart disease and died in captivity while bound and gagged inside an unventilated box.