Under Rule 404(a)(3), evidence of a witness's character may be admitted under which provisions?

Under Rule 404(a)(3), evidence of a witness's character may be admitted under which provisions?

• A. It may be admitted under 607.
• B. 607, 608, and 609.
• C. Only 404(a)(3) applies.
• D. 403.

Answer: (B)

Impeaching a witness on truthfulness is governed by Rule 404(a)(3), which directs that evidence of a witness's character for truthfulness may be admitted only under the separate impeachment provisions that regulate credibility. Those provisions are designed to cover different ways credibility can be attacked or supported: Rule 607 allows impeachment by evidence of a witness’s credibility from any witness; Rule 608 covers credibility through reputation or opinion about truthfulness, and, on cross-examination or with court permission, specific instances of conduct that reflect on truthfulness; Rule 609 governs impeachment by evidence of a prior criminal conviction, with limits based on the nature of the crime and timing. Because 404(a)(3) points to these rules, all three—607, 608, and 609—are available pathways for introducing witness-character evidence relevant to credibility. The other options are incomplete or misapply the scope (for example, 403 deals with balancing prejudice and probative value, not with authorizing which rules permit impeachment).

Impeaching a witness on truthfulness is governed by Rule 404(a)(3), which directs that evidence of a witness's character for truthfulness may be admitted only under the separate impeachment provisions that regulate credibility. Those provisions are designed to cover different ways credibility can be attacked or supported: Rule 607 allows impeachment by evidence of a witness’s credibility from any witness; Rule 608 covers credibility through reputation or opinion about truthfulness, and, on cross-examination or with court permission, specific instances of conduct that reflect on truthfulness; Rule 609 governs impeachment by evidence of a prior criminal conviction, with limits based on the nature of the crime and timing. Because 404(a)(3) points to these rules, all three—607, 608, and 609—are available pathways for introducing witness-character evidence relevant to credibility. The other options are incomplete or misapply the scope (for example, 403 deals with balancing prejudice and probative value, not with authorizing which rules permit impeachment).