Rule 609:
Use of Convictions
to Attack Credibility
Problem 8
Problem 8:
Your Flow
Charts
One Possible Flow
Chart
Conviction
offered
Flow Chart
1
to impeach witness
Yes
Accused
Rules
Is
Witness
the
Accused
No
Regular
Rules
Conviction of Non-Accused
Flow Chart 2
Yes
Crime of
Dishonesty?
No
Yes
Felony?
Yes Pass 403? No
Admit subject to
Exceptions (b) - (d)
Exclude
No
Conviction ofFlow
Accused
Chart 3
Yes
Crime of
Dishonesty?
No
Yes
Yes
Admit subject to
Exceptions (b) - (d)
Special
Balance
Felony?
No
Exclude
No
403 Balancing
1 Admit
4 Admit
3 Admit
2 Admit
5 Exclude
Special
609(a)(1)
Balancing
1 Admit
4 Exclude
3 Exclude
2 Admit
5 Exclude
Special
Regular
403
609(a)(1)
Balancing
Balancing
1 Admit
Admit
4 Exclude
Admit
3 Exclude
2 Admit
5 Exclude
Rule 403 reflects a
strong preference
for
admission
Rule 609(a)(1) reflects a
weak
for
preference
exclusion
Old Conviction
Flow Chart 4
>10 yrs
since
conviction
?
Yes
No
Admit subject to
Exceptions (b) - (d)
>10 yrs
since
release
?
Yes
Yes
Passes
Special
609(b)
Balance
?
No
Exclude
No
403 Balancing
1 Admit
4 Admit
3 Admit
2 Admit
5 Exclude
Special 609(b)
Balancing
1 Admit
4 Exclude
3 Exclude
2 Exclude
5 Exclude
Special
Regular
403
609(b)
Balancing
Balancing
1 Admit
Admit
4 Exclude
Admit
3 Exclude
Admit
2 Exclude
5 Exclude
Rule 403 reflects a
strong preference
for
admission
Rule 609(b) reflects a
strong preference
for
exclusion
FlowPardon
Chart 5
No
Type of
Pardon
Yes
Pardon?
Restore
Rights
Innocence
Rehabilitation
No
Stayed
Yes
Clean
Admit Subject
to Exception (d)
Exclude
Juvenile Convictions
Flow Chart 6
Yes
Was it a
juvenile
conviction
?
No
Current
case
criminal
?
No
Yes
Is
witness the
accused
?
No
OK
to attack
credibility
of adult
? Yes
No
Yes
Admit
Exclude
No Admission
Necessary
for Fair
Trial
Yes
Admit