Chapter 23 - Religious Beliefs & Impeachment

Question 1

This rule prohibits a parties from using a witness’s religious beliefs to attack the witness’s credibility.

Answer 1

RULE 610

Question 2

Policy for RULE 610

Answer 2

1. Undermine our constitutional & cultural commitment to religious freedom.
2. Encourage jurors to credit some faiths more than others (those who share their own beliefs v. other faiths/no faiths)

Question 3

When does RULE 610 bar evidence? In what cases, does RULE 610 NOT preclude evidence of Religious Beliefs?

Answer 3

1. Bars evidence of religious beliefs ONLY when offered to attack or buttress a witness’s CREDIBILITY.
2. Does NOT bar evidence of religious belief when they are RELEVANT to matters, such as BIAS, DAMAGES, RELIGIOUS HATE CRIME or MOTIVE.