Which statement correctly describes permissible witness compensation?

• A. Pay reasonable compensation for loss of time and related expenses incurred in testifying.
• B. Pay a witness contingent on the outcome of the case.
• C. Pay a witness to influence their testimony.
• D. Pay a witness for every hour they attend court regardless of testimony.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that witnesses can be reimbursed for the actual burden they bear to testify: reasonable compensation for lost time and the reasonable expenses incurred in coming to and staying for a testimony, not as a reward or incentive. This ensures fairness without turning testimony into a paid outcome.

Why this option fits: it precisely describes paying for the loss of time and related expenses that come with testifying, which is the standard approach to witness compensation. The other choices cross important ethical and legal lines: paying based on the case outcome could bias the witness or be seen as a payoff; paying to influence testimony is improper and effectively bribery; paying for every hour regardless of whether the witness actually testifies would improperly compensate mere attendance rather than the demonstrated loss of time and necessary expenses.