Opinion ID: 2123768
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Impeachment value

Text: Generally, convictions for violent crimes lack the impeachment value of crimen falsi. See e.g., Gordon, 383 F.2d at 940. However, trial courts have great discretion in determining what prior convictions are admissible under the balancing test of Rule 609(a)(1). See e.g., State v. Lloyd, 345 N.W.2d 240, 246 (Minn.1984); State v. Brouillette, 286 N.W.2d 702, 707 (Minn.1979). Moreover, the fact that a prior conviction did not directly involve truth or falsity does not mean it has no impeachment value. Brouillette, 286 N.W.2d at 707. We have stated that impeachment by prior crime aids the jury by allowing it `to see the whole person and thus to judge better the truth of his testimony.' Id. (quoting St. Paul v. DiBucci, 304 Minn. 97, 100, 229 N.W.2d 507, 508 (1975)).