Also known as: religious belief
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
An evidentiary prohibition that bars admission of a witness's religious beliefs or opinions to attack or support the witness's credibility. The rule prevents jurors from assessing truthfulness on the basis of faith rather than the substance of the testimony.
Rhea Reynolds sued a store after slipping on a wet floor. An eyewitness testified the floor was wet and unmarked. On cross-examination the defense sought to ask the witness about membership in a religious group boycotting the store for Sunday hours, hoping to show bias. The court sustained the objection because the inquiry would use religious beliefs to attack credibility.
Robert Rivera was on trial for robbery. The prosecution called an eyewitness who testified about seeing the defendant. On cross-examination defense counsel asked whether the witness's religious beliefs would prevent truthful testimony. The court sustained the objection and barred any further inquiry into religious beliefs to attack credibility.
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Ravi Reddy sued a performer for breaching a concert agreement. A stagehand testified about contract terms. Defense counsel tried to ask the stagehand about membership in a religious group that condemns secular music to imply bias. The court excluded the questions because they sought to attack credibility through religious beliefs.
Ralph Richardson challenged a state law restricting contraceptive access. A witness testified about enforcement practices. Opposing counsel sought to introduce the witness's religious beliefs to undermine credibility. The court excluded the evidence under the rule prohibiting religious beliefs to attack or support credibility.
Riley Rivera was prosecuted under a firearms statute. A defense witness testified about historical practices. The prosecution attempted to introduce the witness's religious beliefs to attack credibility. The court sustained the objection and barred the inquiry as prohibited by the evidentiary rule.
Ronald Reed sought to introduce polygraph results in a criminal trial. A witness was prepared to testify about the test results. The government objected to any exploration of the witness's religious beliefs to support or attack credibility. The court excluded the line of questioning under the rule while ruling on the polygraph separately.
Yes. The rule categorically excludes religious beliefs or opinions when offered to attack or support credibility, including attempts to show bias through religious affiliation. Courts must sustain objections to such inquiries regardless of the label placed on the evidence.
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No. The rule prohibits the use of religious beliefs to attack credibility irrespective of the purpose label. Counsel may explore actual bias shown through specific conduct, but religious affiliation itself supplies no permissible basis for impeachment.
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The prohibition applies at any stage. The rule focuses on the purpose of the evidence rather than the timing or the party offering it, so religious beliefs remain inadmissible to attack credibility whether asked on direct or cross.
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…in the relationship of marriage should be left to personal and private choice, based upon each individual's moral, ethical, and religious beliefs. As a matter of social policy, I think professional counsel about methods of birth control should be available to all, so that each individual's choice can be meaningfully made. But we are…