Under Rule 608, which forms of evidence may be used to attack or support a witness's character for truthfulness?

• A. Reputation and Opinion Evidence
• B. Only Criminal Convictions
• C. Only Physical Evidence
• D. Character of the defendant

Answer: (A)

Rule 608 governs how to prove a witness’s character for truthfulness. The evidence that is permitted to attack or support that trait is reputation and opinion evidence—what others in the community say about the witness’s truthfulness, or a witness’s own opinion about the truthfulness of the person. This is the form specifically authorized to show someone is generally truthful or not. Specific acts of dishonesty aren’t used to prove truthfulness under this rule on direct examination; they may be explored on cross-examination under the related provision, but the main allowance under Rule 608 is reputation and opinion evidence. The other options fall outside this rule’s scope: criminal convictions are covered by Rule 609, evidence about physical items isn’t relevant to truthfulness, and the defendant’s character isn’t what Rule 608 addresses when evaluating a witness’s truthfulness.