Opinion ID: 607860
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Impeachment of a Witness Using His Religious Beliefs

Text: 49 Fed.R.Evid. 610 provides that [e]vidence of the beliefs or opinions of a witness on matters of religion is not admissible for the purpose of showing that by reason of their nature [his] credibility is impaired or enhanced. Over the Maleks' repeated objections, the district court permitted Schneck to respond to defense counsel's questions about whether his transactions with Malek involved other Hasidim, whether he had other Hasidic clients and whether his teaching position was part of the Yeshiva University system. 50 Because it is apparent from these questions that defense counsel attempted to show that Schneck's character for truthfulness was affected by his religious beliefs and that such questioning may have prejudiced the Maleks, the district court erred in permitting the defendants to pursue this line of questioning. See Contemporary Mission, Inc. v. Bonded Mailings, Inc., 671 F.2d 81, 84 (2d Cir.1982) (affirming district court's refusal to permit questioning of witness' beliefs in the Roman Catholic Church in a breach of contract action because religion was a collateral, potentially confusing and prejudicial, issue which would perforce have raised a 'religious problem' ). We are particularly troubled about this line of questioning, especially where the impeached witness' religious affiliation is the same as that of the plaintiffs.