§ 2405 Methods of proving character.

When someone's character can be used as evidence in a case, there are a few ways to prove it. A witness can testify about the person's reputation in the community, or the witness can give their own opinion about the person's character. If a witness testifies about character, the other side can ask questions on cross-examination about specific things the person has done, as long as those actions relate to the character trait being discussed.

There's also a special situation where character itself is a key part of the legal case. This happens when proving or disproving someone's character is necessary to win the claim or defense, not just something that supports it. In these cases, the law allows more detailed proof. Instead of just talking about reputation or giving an opinion, someone can bring up specific examples of what the person actually did.

The difference between these two parts matters because it controls how much detail can come into evidence. In most cases, you stick to reputation and opinion testimony, with specific examples only allowed during cross-examination. But when character is truly at the heart of the case, like in a defamation claim about someone's honesty, both sides can present specific real-life examples as direct evidence.