Helpful Hints
- (1) You can search the entire content of Dean’s by phrase or by individual words. Just type your keywords into the search box and then pull down the search icon on the right and choose the option you need: search by word or by phrase or reset the content.
- (2) Double click on a word in the content of a definition, and if the word is listed as a keyword in Dean’s, it will look that word up.
- (3) You can use the search function to help jump the scrolling function. Simply type the first 2-3 letters into the search box then hit enter on your keyboard and the scroll will go to those Keywords that begin with those letters and allow you to scroll from there.
The Rule states that 'evidence that a witness . . . has been convicted of a crime shall be admitted, subject to Rule 403.' Fed. R. Evid. 609(a)(1) (emphasis added). The question raised by the district court's interpretation of the Rule is thus whether the 'evidence' of a prior felony conviction referenced in the Rule necessarily includes the statutory name of the offense and any other information, or whether the mere fact of conviction of an unnamed felony, the sentence imposed, and the date of conviction suffice.
Both Rule 609(a)(1) and (a)(2) contemplate admitting 'evidence' of a witness's convictions for impeachment purposes. Rule 609 states, in pertinent part: (a) General Rule. For the purpose of attacking the credibility of a witness, (1) evidence that a witness other than an accused has been convicted of a crime shall be admitted, subject to Rule 403, if the crime was punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year under the law under which the witness was convicted, and evidence that an accused has been convicted of such a crime shall be admitted if the court determines that the probative value of admitting this evidence outweighs its prejudicial ...
