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Fed. R. Evid. 609

Impeachment by Evidence of a Criminal Conviction

activein force · 2024-12-01 – presentact-effective-date

(a) I N GENERAL. The following rules apply to attacking a

witness’s character for truthfulness by evidence of a criminal conviction:

(1) for a crime that, in the convicting jurisdiction, was punishable by death or by imprisonment for more than one year,

the evidence:

(A) must be admitted, subject to Rule 403, in a civil case

or in a criminal case in which the witness is not a defendant; and

(B) must be admitted in a criminal case in which the

witness is a defendant, if the probative value of the evidence outweighs its prejudicial effect to that defendant;

and

13 Rule 611 FEDERAL RULES OF EVIDENCE

(2) for any crime regardless of the punishment, the evidence

must be admitted if the court can readily determine that establishing the elements of the crime required proving—or the

witness’s admitting—a dishonest act or false statement.

(b) LIMIT ON USING THE EVIDENCE AFTER 10 Years. This subdivision (b) applies if more than 10 years have passed since the

witness’s conviction or release from confinement for it, whichever

is later. Evidence of the conviction is admissible only if:

(1) its probative value, supported by specific facts and circumstances, substantially outweighs its prejudicial effect; and

(2) the proponent gives an adverse party reasonable written

notice of the intent to use it so that the party has a fair opportunity to contest its use.

(c) EFFECT OF A PARDON, ANNULMENT, OR CERTIFICATE OF REHABILITATION. Evidence of a conviction is not admissible if:

(1) the conviction has been the subject of a pardon, annulment, certificate of rehabilitation, or other equivalent procedure based on a finding that the person has been rehabilitated,

and the person has not been convicted of a later crime punishable by death or by imprisonment for more than one year; or

(2) the conviction has been the subject of a pardon, annulment, or other equivalent procedure based on a finding of innocence.

(d) JUVENILE ADJUDICATIONS. Evidence of a juvenile adjudication

is admissible under this rule only if:

(1) it is offered in a criminal case;

(2) the adjudication was of a witness other than the defendant;

(3) an adult’s conviction for that offense would be admissible

to attack the adult’s credibility; and

(4) admitting the evidence is necessary to fairly determine

guilt or innocence.

(e) PENDENCY OF AN APPEAL. A conviction that satisfies this rule

is admissible even if an appeal is pending. Evidence of the pendency is also admissible.

(As amended Mar. 2, 1987, eff. Oct. 1, 1987; Jan. 26, 1990, eff. Dec.

1, 1990; Apr. 12, 2006, eff. Dec. 1, 2006; Apr. 26, 2011, eff. Dec. 1, 2011.)

Provenance

Source
uscourts.gov
Retrieved
2026-09-03
Edition
2026-08-19
Content hash
011288b5fd940720b8b136f61b33a21f662bc9e6bc11cf67de1e6f54c8ee6591
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