§ 24-9-84 - How witness impeached -- Reputation as bad character; limitations; procedure; how witness sustained; when particular transactions or individual opinions may be inquired of - Georgia Statutes

O.C.G.A. 24-9-84 (2010)
24-9-84. How witness impeached -- Reputation as bad character; limitations; procedure; how witness sustained; when particular transactions or individual opinions may be inquired of

Any party may impeach the credibility of a witness by offering evidence of the witness's bad character in the form of reputation, but subject to the following limitations:

(1) The evidence may refer only to character for truthfulness or untruthfulness;

(2) Evidence of truthful character is admissible only after the character of the witness for truthfulness has been attacked by reputation evidence or otherwise;

(3) In a criminal case, the character for untruthfulness of the defendant may be introduced in evidence only if the defendant testifies and offers evidence of his or her truthful character; and

(4) The character witness should first be questioned as to his or her knowledge of the general character of the witness, next as to what that character is, and lastly the character witness may be asked if from that character he or she would believe him or her on his or her oath. The witness may be sustained by similar proof of character. The particular transactions or the opinions of single individuals shall not be inquired of on either side, except upon cross-examination in seeking for the extent and foundation of the witness's knowledge.