[대학원] Evidence Law 7주차 - Character evidence

 

안녕하세요. 미국 변호사 장수훈 입니다.

 

한림국제대학원대학교에서 Evidence law 강의를 진행하고 있습니다. 총12주 과정에서 7주차에 접어 들었습니다. Evidence를 공부하는데 3가지 고비가 있는데 그 중 하나가 바로 Character evidence입니다. 수업시간에 다룬 부분에 대해 정리를 해보도록 하겠습니다.

 

1. FRE404, 405 vs FRE 609

Impeachment를 마치고 Character evidence에 들어오면 뭔가 비슷한데 크게 다른 상황을 보게 될 것입니다. 그렇다면 왜 크게 다른지에 대해 고민을 할 필요가 있습니다. 그리고 그 고민은 FRE를 보면서 해결해 볼 수 있습니다.

 

FRE400번대 법칙은 Sustantive evidence와 연관되어 있습니다. 그리고 FRE600번대 법칙은 Impeachment와 연관되어 있습니다. FRE 번호 차이가 있다는 것은 눈으로 바로 알 수 있습니다. 그렇다면 그 근본적 차이는 무엇일까요?

 

그것은 바로 "Evidence 사용목적"입니다. Character evidence의 사용 목적은 Substantive evidence 즉, 증거를 통해 Claim을 증명하는 것입니다. 한편, Impeachment는 발언하는 사람의 Credibility를 떨어뜨리려는 것입니다. 즉, 발언하는 사람의 말을 믿을 수 없다는 목적으로 사용됩니다. 당연히 Character evidence가 Impeachment가 Claim을 입증하는데 좀 더 가깝다고 볼 수 있습니다. 따라서, Character evidence는 좀 더 엄격하다고 볼 수 있습니다.

 

이 차이를 볼 수 있기 위해 FRE404를 보면 아래와 같습니다.

Rule 404. Character Evidence; Other Crimes, Wrongs, or Acts
(a) Character Evidence.
(1) Prohibited Uses. Evidence of a person’s character or character trait is not admissible to prove that on a particular occasion the person acted in accordance with the character or trait.
(2) Exceptions for a Defendant or Victim in a Criminal Case. The following exceptions apply in a criminal case:
(A) a defendant may offer evidence of the defendant’s pertinent trait, and if the evidence is admitted, the prosecutor may offer evidence to rebut it;
(B) subject to the limitations in Rule 412, a defendant may offer evidence of an alleged victim’s pertinent trait, and if the evidence is admitted, the prosecutor may:
(i) offer evidence to rebut it; and
(ii) offer evidence of the defendant’s same trait; and
(C) in a homicide case, the prosecutor may offer evidence of the alleged victim’s trait of peacefulness to rebut evidence that the victim was the first aggressor.
(3) Exceptions for a Witness. Evidence of a witness’s character may be admitted under Rules 607, 608, and 609.
(b) Other Crimes, Wrongs, or Acts.
(1) Prohibited Uses. Evidence of any other crime, wrong, or act is not admissible to prove a person’s character in order to show that on a particular occasion the person acted in accordance with the character.
(2) Permitted Uses. This evidence may be admissible for another purpose, such as proving motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake, or lack of accident.
(3) Notice in a Criminal Case. In a criminal case, the prosecutor must:
(A) provide reasonable notice of any such evidence that the prosecutor intends to offer at trial, so that the defendant has a fair opportunity to meet it;
(B) articulate in the notice the permitted purpose for which the prosecutor intends to offer the evidence and the reasoning that supports the purpose; and
(C) do so in writing before trial — or in any form during trial if the court, for good cause, excuses lack of pretrial notice.

 

그리고 FRE609를 한번 보시면, 앞서 살펴본 FRE404와 비교 대조 할 수 있습니다.

Rule 609. Impeachment by Evidence of a Criminal Conviction
(a) In General. The following rules apply to attacking a witness’s character for truthfulness by evidence of a criminal conviction:
(1) for a crime that, in the convicting jurisdiction, was punishable by death or by imprisonment for more than one year, the evidence:
(A) must be admitted, subject to Rule 403, in a civil case or in a criminal case in which the witness is not a defendant; and
(B) must be admitted in a criminal case in which the witness is a defendant, if the probative value of the evidence outweighs its prejudicial effect to that defendant; and
(2) for any crime regardless of the punishment, the evidence must be admitted if the court can readily determine that establishing the elements of the crime required proving — or the witness’s admitting — a dishonest act or false statement.
(b) Limit on Using the Evidence After 10 Years. This subdivision (b) applies if more than 10 years have passed since the witness’s conviction or release from confinement for it, whichever is later. Evidence of the conviction is admissible only if:
(1) its probative value, supported by specific facts and circumstances, substantially outweighs its prejudicial effect; and
(2) the proponent gives an adverse party reasonable written notice of the intent to use it so that the party has a fair opportunity to contest its use.
(c) Effect of a Pardon, Annulment, or Certificate of Rehabilitation. Evidence of a conviction is not admissible if:
(1) the conviction has been the subject of a pardon, annulment, certificate of rehabilitation, or other equivalent procedure based on a finding that the person has been rehabilitated, and the person has not been convicted of a later crime punishable by death or by imprisonment for more than one year; or
(2) the conviction has been the subject of a pardon, annulment, or other equivalent procedure based on a finding of innocence.
(d) Juvenile Adjudications. Evidence of a juvenile adjudication is admissible under this rule only if:
(1) it is offered in a criminal case;
(2) the adjudication was of a witness other than the defendant;
(3) an adult’s conviction for that offense would be admissible to attack the adult’s credibility; and
(4) admitting the evidence is necessary to fairly determine guilt or innocence.
(e) Pendency of an Appeal. A conviction that satisfies this rule is admissible even if an appeal is pending. Evidence of the pendency is also admissible.

 

2. Character evidence에서 유의해야 하는 점

Character evidence에서 유의할 점은 1)Criminal trial인지 Civil trial에서 지금 상황이 발생했는지 살펴보는 것이 중요합니다. 대원칙은 Character evidence는 Inadmissible입니다. 하지만, 예외 요건의 적용 여부에 따라 Admissible하게 됩니다. 수업시간에는 그 예외 요건을 배웁니다.

 

두번째 유의할 점은 바로 2)Character evidence를 사용하는 방식입니다. Character evidence를 사용하기 위해 요건이 필요합니다. 그리고 그 요건이 있으면 Extrinsic evidence, intrinsic evidence 방식으로 사용할 수 있습니다. Extrinsic, intrinsic을 구분하는 것은 매우 중요합니다. 그래서 Impeachment와 헷갈리게 됩니다. 수업시간에 이 부분을 커버했습니다.

 

 

3. Habit evidence, Rape shield rule 등

Habit evidence는 Character evidence가 아닙니다. Character는 일종의 경향성을 설명한다면 Habit은 말 그대로 "습관"입니다. 그래서 Habit의 경우, 1)특정 상황에서 2)특정 행동을 3)반드시 하게 됩니다. 그래서 Habit evidence는 증거로 사용됩니다.

Habit evidence는 FRE 609에서 확인할 수 있습니다.

Rule 406. Habit; Routine Practice
Evidence of a person’s habit or an organization’s routine practice may be admitted to prove that on a particular occasion the person or organization acted in accordance with the habit or routine practice. The court may admit this evidence regardless of whether it is corroborated or whether there was an eyewitness.

 

Habit evidence를 참조할 수 있도록 아래 링크를 걸어 두었습니다.

https://youtu.be/SapIMKjGpNU

 

FRE 412를 확인해보면 아래와 같습니다.

Rule 412. Sex-Offense Cases: The Victim
(a) Prohibited Uses. The following evidence is not admissible in a civil or criminal proceeding involving alleged sexual misconduct:
(1) evidence offered to prove that a victim engaged in other sexual behavior; or
(2) evidence offered to prove a victim’s sexual predisposition.
(b) Exceptions.
(1) Criminal Cases. The court may admit the following evidence in a criminal case:
(A) evidence of specific instances of a victim’s sexual behavior, if offered to prove that someone other than the defendant was the source of semen, injury, or other physical evidence;
(B) evidence of specific instances of a victim’s sexual behavior with respect to the person accused of the sexual misconduct, if offered by the defendant to prove consent or if offered by the prosecutor; and
(C) evidence whose exclusion would violate the defendant’s constitutional rights.
(2) Civil Cases. In a civil case, the court may admit evidence offered to prove a victim’s sexual behavior or sexual predisposition if its probative value substantially outweighs the danger of harm to any victim and of unfair prejudice to any party. The court may admit evidence of a victim’s reputation only if the victim has placed it in controversy.
(c) Procedure to Determine Admissibility.
(1) Motion. If a party intends to offer evidence under Rule 412(b), the party must:
(A) file a motion that specifically describes the evidence and states the purpose for which it is to be offered;
(B) do so at least 14 days before trial unless the court, for good cause, sets a different time;
(C) serve the motion on all parties; and
(D) notify the victim or, when appropriate, the victim’s guardian or representative.
(2) Hearing. Before admitting evidence under this rule, the court must conduct an in camera hearing and give the victim and parties a right to attend and be heard. Unless the court orders otherwise, the motion, related materials, and the record of the hearing must be and remain sealed.
(d) Definition of “Victim.” In this rule, “victim” includes an alleged victim.

 

Rape shield rule은 Victim을 보호하기 위한 법칙입니다. 구체적인 내용은 수업시간에 다뤘습니다. 그리고 FRE 403이 잘 작동하지 않는 규칙이기도 합니다.

 

이렇게 7주차 수업도 마쳤고 Character evidence도 정리했습니다. FRE뿐만 아니라 예제를 많이 다루면서 최대한 정확히 Rule을 이해하고자 했습니다.

 

감사합니다.

 

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