Under Rule 608(b), when impeaching a witness for truthfulness, what does the court control?

Under Rule 608(b), when impeaching a witness for truthfulness, what does the court control?

• A. The witness may be asked about any acts related to deceit without court supervision.
• B. The court controls the scope of questions about specific acts relevant to truthfulness.
• C. Only acts that occurred before the age of majority may be asked.
• D. The court cannot limit questions about acts.

Answer: (B)

Rule 608(b) allows a cross-examiner to probe specific acts that bear on a witness’s truthfulness, but the judge has control over how far that inquiry can go. The court can permit such questions only if they’re probative of truthfulness and it may limit or even bar questions that are irrelevant, overly broad, or prejudicial. This balance keeps the focus on credibility without turning cross-examination into an endless fishing expedition. There is no age-based restriction, and the court can cap the scope of questioning, so the court’s control over the scope is the correct principle.

Rule 608(b) allows a cross-examiner to probe specific acts that bear on a witness’s truthfulness, but the judge has control over how far that inquiry can go. The court can permit such questions only if they’re probative of truthfulness and it may limit or even bar questions that are irrelevant, overly broad, or prejudicial. This balance keeps the focus on credibility without turning cross-examination into an endless fishing expedition. There is no age-based restriction, and the court can cap the scope of questioning, so the court’s control over the scope is the correct principle.