Angel says that he can't testify in court. Why not. Angel must exist as some kind of legal person. He has a PI's license, he must have a business license, he has a checking account, he probably has to fill out W-2 forms for his employees...
The main problem with testifying is possibly sunlight through the courtroom, except that there are people who are allergic to sunlight, so if the courtroom does have windows, they can be covered for medical reasons. The other possibility is a lawyer asking him questions that might reveal he's a vampire. Although the prosecution would probably object to that line of questioning.

Lindsay's change of heart comes awfully late. The previous two episodes, Lindsay didn't seem to have a problem with his conscience, but now, with no foreshadowing, we're supposed to buy that he is having ethical & moral problems? I don't think so.

Cute little bit of 'street theater' to cover up Angel's entrance into the building.

actually i got the impresion that Angel does not have all that legal stuff (W-2; business license)

I was thinking maybe Angel's reluctance to testify had to do with the oath a witness must state, with the Bible & telling the truth so help you God, but I'm not sure if they're used anymore. It could be that he's afraid he won't show up on any recording devices, since a lot of court sessions are now videotaped. I was really hoping he'd reveal the reason why he wouldn't go to court.

Actually, putting your hand on the Bible is one option you have, when under oath. Obviously someone who is a Muslim or some other religion wouldn't want to put their hand on the Bible and swear.

I don't know where Angel is based, but in California, they just ask:

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"

No "so help you G-d". And you don't have to put your hand on a Bible.

This is based on memories from several experiences on a jury.

Richie: On a few of the old boards I commented on the legality of Angel being a PI, and as I understand California law, he can't be, yet.

However, I believe that several people in the series have refered to Angel as a PI, including Policewoman Kate. (So it seems that TPTB don't deal in reality, either.;-) This would indicate that Angel, somehow, does have a PI's liscence.

He also, obviously, runs a business, accepts payment for services rendered, and has at least one employee, Cordelia. (Cordy has to pay her taxes and has to list something as an occupation.)

Also in Sanctuary, and I believe other episodes as well, we see Angel signing checks for business expenses and Cordy's paid vacation.

If Angel doesn't have a business licence than to heck with Wolfram & Hart, he's going to have to deal with the most evil thing to ever walk the face of the Earth... the IRS!

ScottN: Angel is based in LA.

Well, I was thinking faster than I could type and was in a bit of a hurry, so my next to last sentence looks like a mess.

I meant that if Angel doesn't have a business licence and charges people money for services, California authorities would be after him, and if he doesn't pay taxes on the money he earns, California revenue agents and the IRS would be after him.

Also considering Kate's feelings about Angel since discovering he's a vampire, if he didn't cross his t's and dot his i's on the legal front, I'm sure she could have come down on him hard, especially in Sanctuary when he was arrested for harboring a fugitive.

>This is based on memories from several experiences on a jury. <

That would explain why I'm so clueless. I've been called for jury duty several times, but I've never been picked. Not that I'm complaining! :)

I know that they've had a computer for several months now, but I have some questions. When did they get it and how did they afford it? I think it is a pretty fast computer form what I've seen. I know that they've had a computer from at least the episode with the body jumping demon.

In the Buffyverse, there's no problem with photographing or filming vampires, it's only mirrors that present a problem.

As for Angel's PI status - well, speaking literally, he's a private investigator whether he's licensed or not, but that's a cop-out. I guess maybe it's possible that he does what most other fictional immortals seem to do, ie running around setting up identities for himself all over the place.

As for testifying in court, maybe he doesn't mean it literally. Sure, he can go into the courtroom and gab away in the box, but maybe he meant 'I can't testify in court' in the sense that, say, Xander might say, 'I can't fight Adam'. Sure, he could do it, but it just wouldn't do much good.

Maybe Vampires can't take oaths period. Oaths usually have a sacred place in all cultures,. As death releases all oaths, How can the undead take them?

Angel's Business license- He proberly got (or stole) a false identity some where along the line. This surrposely powerful Council seems to have deep pockets, wth the flying between Europe and rare books and all.

Just because someone is undead doesn't release them from their oaths. They may choose not to be bound by their oaths, but the living do that as well.

While I can't think of a specific example, Angel seems like the kind of person who's word is his bond. It seems to me that swearing to tell the truth in court and telling someone that they'll help them are both oaths.

Re: Angel testifying in court

The main problem with Angel testifying in court is that Angel's testimony would be subject to cross-examination (which might be a problem for Angel, given his background).