Opinion ID: 1424060
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Interest Supporting Exclusion

Text: The interests supporting exclusion in this case are the interests behind Tennessee Rules of Evidence 802 and 613(b). Rule 802 provides generally that hearsay is not admissible. The United States Supreme Court described the interest behind the hearsay rule in Chambers : The hearsay rule, which long has been recognized and respected by virtually every State, is based on experience and grounded in the notion that untrustworthy evidence should not be presented to triers of fact. Out-of-court statements are traditionally excluded because they lack the conventional indicia of reliability: they are usually not made under oath or other circumstances that impress the speaker with the solemnity of the statements; the declarant's word is not subject to cross-examination; and he is not available in order that his demeanor and credibility may be assessed by the jury. 410 U.S. at 298, 93 S.Ct. 1038. Rule 802 serves an important interest in excluding testimony that is untrustworthy. Rule 613(b) prohibits the introduction of extrinsic evidence of a prior inconsistent statement unless the witness is given the opportunity to explain or deny the statement. The interest behind the rule is one of fairness to the witness. It is unfair to attempt to impeach a witness's character for truthfulness with proof of statements made on other occasions without first giving the witness an opportunity to respond. See Moore v. Bettis, 30 Tenn. (11 Hum.) 67 (1850) (holding that it is a manifest injustice to impeach a witness's character without first calling the witness's attention to the statement). Other purposes of Rule 613(b) are that it provides for an orderly presentation of evidence and testimony, saves time when the witness admits to having made the statement, and lessens the risk that the jury will consider extrinsic evidence as substantive evidence. State v. Martin, 964 S.W.2d 564, 567 (Tenn.1998). For these reasons, we conclude that the interests behind Tennessee Rules of Evidence 802 and 613(b) are substantially important.