When may a party offer prior statements to rehabilitate credibility?

When may a party offer prior statements to rehabilitate credibility?

• A. After the witness testifies, regardless of credibility attacks
• B. When a witness has been attacked on credibility due to a prior inconsistency or contradiction
• C. Only if the prior statement is a party admission
• D. If the witness has never been accused of deceit

Answer: (B)

Rehabilitation of a witness’s credibility occurs after the witness has been impeached. When credibility has been challenged—typically by showing a prior inconsistency or contradiction—you may offer a prior statement that is consistent with the witness’s current testimony to bolster trust in that witness. That is exactly what this option captures: you turn to a prior consistent statement to rehabilitate once the witness’s credibility has been attacked by an inconsistency or contradiction. This approach isn’t triggered merely by any testimony; it’s specifically a response to an impeachment attack. It’s broader than just party admissions, and it isn’t limited to witnesses who have never faced deceit accusations. So the best answer reflects the rule that prior statements are used to rehabilitate only after credibility has been attacked due to inconsistency or contradiction.

Rehabilitation of a witness’s credibility occurs after the witness has been impeached. When credibility has been challenged—typically by showing a prior inconsistency or contradiction—you may offer a prior statement that is consistent with the witness’s current testimony to bolster trust in that witness. That is exactly what this option captures: you turn to a prior consistent statement to rehabilitate once the witness’s credibility has been attacked by an inconsistency or contradiction.

This approach isn’t triggered merely by any testimony; it’s specifically a response to an impeachment attack. It’s broader than just party admissions, and it isn’t limited to witnesses who have never faced deceit accusations. So the best answer reflects the rule that prior statements are used to rehabilitate only after credibility has been attacked due to inconsistency or contradiction.