Louisiana Private Investigator Licensing Practice Exam

Is character evidence generally admissible in civil or criminal trials?

1. Yes, always

2. No, with some exceptions

3. Only in criminal trials

4. Only in civil trials

The correct answer is: No, with some exceptions

Character evidence is not generally admissible in either civil or criminal trials, but there are specific exceptions that can allow its introduction in certain circumstances. In general, character evidence refers to information about a person's character or character traits, which people might argue is relevant to the case at hand. In criminal trials, for instance, the defendant may introduce evidence of their good character to support the notion that they did not commit the crime, while the prosecution may not typically introduce evidence of the defendant's bad character to prove that they acted in a particular way on that occasion. However, there are exceptions, such as when the defendant opens the door by introducing their own character evidence or when character is an essential element of a claim or defense. In civil trials, character evidence is generally not used unless it directly relates to the case, such as in defamation cases where the character of the person may be a crucial factor. Thus, while there are contexts in which character evidence can be admitted, it is not a blanket rule, confirming that the answer pertaining to the rule of general inadmissibility with specific exceptions is accurate.