Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 21, May 25, 2024
Rule 608 - A Witness's Character for Truthfulness or Untruthfulness(a)Reputation Evidence. A witness's credibility may be attacked or supported by testimony about the witness's reputation for having a character for truthfulness or untruthfulness. But evidence of truthful character is admissible only after the witness's character for truthfulness has been attacked. Opinion testimony about the witness's character for truthfulness or untruthfulness is not admissible.(b)Specific Instances of Conduct. Except as provided in Rule 609 (relating to evidence of conviction of crime),(1) the character of a witness for truthfulness may not be attacked or supported by cross-examination or extrinsic evidence concerning specific instances of the witness' conduct; however,(2) in the discretion of the court, the credibility of a witness who testifies as to the reputation of another witness for truthfulness or untruthfulness may be attacked by cross-examination concerning specific instances of conduct (not including arrests) of the other witness, if they are probative of truthfulness or untruthfulness; but extrinsic evidence thereof is not admissible.The provisions of this Rule 608 rescinded and replaced January 17, 2013, effective in sixty days, 43 Pa.B. 620.