RULE 609. IMPEACHMENT BY EVIDENCE OF CONVICTION OF CRIME
Effective Date: 3/1/1990
Obsolete Date: 3/1/2008
(a) General Rule. For the purpose of attacking the credibility of a witness, (i) evidence that a witness other than an accused has been convicted of a crime must 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 must be admitted if the court determines that the probative value of admitting that evidence outweighs its prejudicial effect to the accused; and (ii) evidence that any witness has been convicted of a crime must be admitted if it involved dishonesty or false statement, regardless of the punishment.
(b) Time Limit. Evidence of a conviction under this rule is not admissible if a period of more than ten years has elapsed since the date of conviction or of the release of the witness from any confinement imposed for that conviction, whichever is the later date unless the witness is still in confinement for that conviction.
(c) Effect of Pardon, Annulment, or Certificate of Rehabilitation.Evidence of a conviction is not admissible under this rule if (1) the conviction is vacated or has been the subject of a pardon, annulment, certificate of rehabilitation, or other equivalent procedure based on a finding of the rehabilitation of the person convicted, and that person has not been convicted of a subsequent crime which was punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of 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 juvenile adjudications is generally not admissible under this rule. However, the court, in a criminal case, may allow evidence of a juvenile adjudication of a witness other than the accused if conviction of the offense would be admissible to attack the credibility of an adult and the court is satisfied that admission in evidence is necessary for a fair determination of the issue of guilt or innocence.
Rule 609 was amended, effective March 1, 1990, January 1, 1995, March 1, 2008; March 1, 2014.
Rule 609 is taken from the Uniform Rules of Evidence (1974). Subdivision (c) was modified by adding the words "is vacated" in paragraph (1). This was done to assure that cases involving deferred imposition of sentences would be covered.
This rule varies from Fed.R.Ev. 609 in that the federal rule gives a court discretion, in subdivision (b), to extend the ten-year period during which evidence of a conviction may be admitted. Under this rule, the court has no discretion in the matter.
Rule 609 was amended, effective March 1, 1990. The amendment is technical in nature and no substantive change is intended.
Subdivision (a) was amended, effective January 1, 1995, to track the 1990 federal amendment.
Subdivision (a) was amended, effective March 1, 2008. The amendment states the circumstances under which evidence of a conviction of a crime involving dishonesty or false statement may be admitted.
Subdivision (e) was added to the rule, effective March 1, 2014, to clarify that convictions pending appeal are admissible under this rule.
Rule 609 was amended, effective March 1, 2014, in response to the December 1, 2011, revision of the Federal Rules of Evidence. The language and organization of the rule were changed to make the rule more easily understood and to make style and terminology consistent throughout the rules.
SOURCES: Minutes of Joint Procedure Committee of April 26-27, 2012, pages 24-25; September 28-29, 2006, pages 16-18; September 23-24, 1993, page 21; November 7-8, 1991, pages 4-5; October 25-26, 1990, page 16; March 24-25, 1988, page 12; December 3, 1987, page 15; April 26-27, 1979, page 9; April 8, 1976, pages 28-29; October 1, 1975, page 5. Fed.R.Ev. 609; Rule 609, SBAND proposal; Rule 609, Uniform Rules of Evidence (1974).