Impeachment

Also known as: Challenging Witness Credibility

In one sentence

Attacking a witness's credibility or reliability by presenting contradictory evidence.

Plain English

Impeachment is a courtroom technique where a lawyer challenges whether a witness is telling the truth or is reliable. This can happen by showing the witness made a prior inconsistent statement, has a bias or motive to lie, or has a history of dishonesty. It doesn't mean removing someone from office—that's a different use of the word. The goal is to make the judge or jury doubt the witness's testimony.

Ad slot

Example

A witness testifies that she saw the defendant at the crime scene at 8 p.m., but the defense lawyer shows a text message the witness sent at 8:15 p.m. from a location 20 miles away. The lawyer uses this contradiction to impeach the witness's credibility.

Used in a sentence

“The defense attorney attempted to impeach the police officer's testimony by pointing out inconsistencies in his written report.”

Related terms

Discovery

The legal process where parties exchange information and evidence before trial.

Voir Dire

The questioning process used to select impartial jurors for a trial.

Evidence

Information, documents, or physical items presented in court to prove or disprove facts.

Stand Your Ground

A law allowing a person to use force, including deadly force, to defend themselves without a duty to retreat.

Castle Doctrine

A law stating that a person's home is their castle and they can use force to defend it without duty to retreat.

Expungement

A legal process that erases or seals a criminal conviction from your record.

Felony

A serious crime punishable by more than one year in prison or death.

Misdemeanor

A less serious crime punishable by up to one year in jail and/or fines.

This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney.