Under which provisions may a witness's character be admitted for impeachment or credibility?

Under which provisions may a witness's character be admitted for impeachment or credibility?

• A. Rule 401 and Rule 402.
• B. Rule 404(a)(1).
• C. Rule 607, 608, and 609.
• D. Rule 403.

Answer: (C)

Impeaching a witness on credibility is handled through specific rules that govern how a witness’s character for truthfulness can be introduced. First, any party may attack a witness’s credibility, so the door is open to challenging truthfulness. To prove that trait, you can present evidence about the witness’s reputation or your own opinion of the witness’s truthfulness. If you choose to show specific conduct reflecting on truthfulness, you may do so only on cross-examination, and you can’t introduce that conduct with extrinsic evidence—only ask about it and let the other side respond. Additionally, a witness’s prior criminal convictions can be admitted to attack credibility, subject to the usual balancing and other limitations (especially when the witness is the accused in a criminal case). Putting those pieces together, the provisions that govern admitting a witness’s character for impeachment or credibility are the rules that cover attacking credibility, presenting reputation or opinion evidence about truthfulness, and using prior convictions to impeach. That’s why these provisions are the correct framework.

Impeaching a witness on credibility is handled through specific rules that govern how a witness’s character for truthfulness can be introduced. First, any party may attack a witness’s credibility, so the door is open to challenging truthfulness. To prove that trait, you can present evidence about the witness’s reputation or your own opinion of the witness’s truthfulness. If you choose to show specific conduct reflecting on truthfulness, you may do so only on cross-examination, and you can’t introduce that conduct with extrinsic evidence—only ask about it and let the other side respond.

Additionally, a witness’s prior criminal convictions can be admitted to attack credibility, subject to the usual balancing and other limitations (especially when the witness is the accused in a criminal case).

Putting those pieces together, the provisions that govern admitting a witness’s character for impeachment or credibility are the rules that cover attacking credibility, presenting reputation or opinion evidence about truthfulness, and using prior convictions to impeach. That’s why these provisions are the correct framework.