During a trial, the credibility of a key witness was impeached after opposing counsel presented evidence that the witness had made a prior inconsistent statement. The party who called the witness now seeks to rehabilitate the witness. What is the BEST method of rehabilitation in this context?
Provide testimony from another party who can vouch for the witness's general character for truthfulness.
Introduce evidence of a prior consistent statement made by the witness before any alleged motive to fabricate arose.
Ask the witness to directly explain the circumstances under which the inconsistent statement was made.
Offer evidence showing the opposing counsel has a bias against the witness.
When a witness is impeached by presenting a prior inconsistent statement, the BEST method for rehabilitation typically involves showing that the witness had previously made a consistent statement under circumstances that would indicate truthfulness. This approach aligns with Federal Rules of Evidence, which allow for prior consistent statements to rebut a claim of inconsistency if it was made before the motive to fabricate arose. Other answers involve strategies that may be effective in different situations but are less targeted to addressing the specific impeachment method of prior inconsistent statements.
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What is impeachment in the context of witness testimony?
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What qualifies as a prior consistent statement?
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What are the Federal Rules of Evidence regarding prior inconsistent statements?