Can a witness be impeached by evidence of past criminal convictions?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Ramos, F066726 (Cal. App. 2014):

A witness's credibility may be impeached by evidence of his or her prior felony convictions. (Evid. Code, 788.) Under Evidence Code section 1202, "[a]ny ... evidence offered to attack or support the credibility of [a hearsay] declarant is admissible if it would have been admissible had the declarant been a witness at the hearing." It follows then that a hearsay declarant's credibility may be attacked with evidence of his or her prior felony convictions. (See People v. Jacobs (2000) 78 Cal.App.4th 1444, 1450.)

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