Rule 5.405 Methods of proving character

When someone's character comes up in a court case, there are limited ways to actually prove it. The most common way is through reputation or opinion testimony. A witness can testify about a person's general reputation in the community, or the witness can give their own opinion about that person's character.

If the character witness testifies, the other side gets a chance to challenge them on cross-examination. During this questioning, the judge may allow the other side to ask about specific things the person did, even if those specific acts weren't part of the main testimony. This helps test whether the witness really knows what they're talking about.

There's a second, narrower way to prove character, but it only applies in special situations. If a person's character is actually a required part of the legal claim or defense itself (not just background information), then specific examples of that person's conduct can be used as direct proof. This is different from the usual rule, where specific past acts are normally limited to cross-examination rather than being presented as main evidence.