Exam 8: Qualifications and Impeachment of Witnesses

All defendants have the right to testify in their own behalf as provided by which of the following Amendments?

Individuals whose knowledge of a criminal act is based on secondary sources of information may be subpoenaed.

Impeachment may be either non-specific or specific.

Competency is considered through the ability to adhere to the ____________ requirements safeguarded by the spirit of the U.S. Constitution and the structure of the American judicial system.

Which Federal Rule of Evidence states, "A witness may not testify to a matter unless evidence is introduced sufficient to support a finding that the witness has personal knowledge of the matter. Evidence to prove personal knowledge may, but need not, consist of the witness' own testimony"?

Match up the terminology to the definitions : -Affirmation

A witness may not be impeached by a demonstration of bias.

Discuss the reasons and methods used to impeach a witness.

Match up the terminology to the definitions : -Voir Dire

Defendants do not have the right to introduce __________ or false testimony.

There are three primary qualifications for witnesses in American courts: personal knowledge, oath or affirmation, and _________.

Unless stipulated to or judicially noted, jurors are not obligated in any situation to accept facts which are contrary to physical facts, laws of nature, common knowledge, or personal experience.

Competency of a witness is crucial and that factor become even more important when the witness is a child. Judges need to consider and evaluate the child's ability to understand the need for truth and ability to remember and recount the events in question. Find the case Government of the Virgin Islands v. Riley 1991 and summarize this case and the outcome regarding this child as a witness.

There are __________ ways to challenge the truthfulness of a witness.

There are how many primary methods of witness impeachment?