Under Rule 609(c), when is a juvenile adjudication admissible?

Under Rule 609(c), when is a juvenile adjudication admissible?

• A. The adjudication was of a witness other than the defendant; an adult's conviction for the same offense would be admissible; admitting evidence is necessary for a fair trial.
• B. The adjudication was the defendant; The offense would be admissible for an adult.
• C. The adjudication is older than 10 years.
• D. The adjudication is for a traffic violation.

Answer: (A)

Rule 609(c) narrows when a juvenile adjudication can be used to impeach a witness. The key idea is that such an adjudication may be admitted only if three things are true: the adjudication concerns a witness other than the defendant; the offense would have been admissible if it had been charged as an adult; and admitting the adjudication is necessary for a fair trial (the probative value must outweigh potential prejudice). The described choice matches exactly those conditions: the adjudication is of a witness other than the defendant, the offense would be admissible for an adult, and admitting it is necessary for a fair trial. The other options fail because they don’t meet those criteria. If the adjudication concerns the defendant, 609(c) doesn’t apply in the same way. A juvenile adjudication for a traffic violation typically isn’t the type of criminal offense considered for impeachment under this rule. And the rule isn’t a blanket time-based or non-criminal-activity exception.

Rule 609(c) narrows when a juvenile adjudication can be used to impeach a witness. The key idea is that such an adjudication may be admitted only if three things are true: the adjudication concerns a witness other than the defendant; the offense would have been admissible if it had been charged as an adult; and admitting the adjudication is necessary for a fair trial (the probative value must outweigh potential prejudice).

The described choice matches exactly those conditions: the adjudication is of a witness other than the defendant, the offense would be admissible for an adult, and admitting it is necessary for a fair trial.

The other options fail because they don’t meet those criteria. If the adjudication concerns the defendant, 609(c) doesn’t apply in the same way. A juvenile adjudication for a traffic violation typically isn’t the type of criminal offense considered for impeachment under this rule. And the rule isn’t a blanket time-based or non-criminal-activity exception.