What is witness impeachment?

• A. A method of excluding a witness from the courtroom
• B. A type of cross-examination that is prohibited
• C. A process of presenting additional evidence to support a witness's testimony
• D. An effort to call into question the evidence or testimony given by a witness so the jury will not believe the evidence or testimony

Answer: (D)

Impeachment is all about challenging a witness’s credibility. It’s an attempt to cast doubt on whether their testimony is trustworthy or accurate, so the jury may view what they say with less weight. This can happen through showing a bias or interest that would color their testimony, presenting prior inconsistent statements, revealing a history of lying or dishonesty (like a conviction for crimes involving dishonesty), or pointing out problems with memory or perception. The goal is not to exclude the witness or to bolster their testimony, but to affect how believable their evidence is to the jury.