4.7 Character of Witness for Truthfulness

4.7 CHARACTER OF WITNESS FOR TRUTHFULNESS 

Comment 

The Committee believes that the trial judge need not give an instruction on the character of a witness for truthfulness because it adds nothing to the general instructions on witness credibility. As to these instructions, see Instructions 1.7 and 3.9 (Credibility of Witnesses). 

Character and reputation are not two separate types of evidence. Reputation is one means of proving character. Opinion evidence is another. Regarding admissibility of character evidence, see Fed. R. Evid. 607 (Who May Impeach a Witness), 608 (A Witness’s Character for Trughtfulness or Untruthfulness) and 609 (Impeachment by Evidence of a Criminal Conviction).  

Approved 3/2018