Court Opinion

ID: 9774864
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 18:36:26.596239+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:17.247598
License: Public Domain

MORRISON, Judge
(concurring).
It is clearly improper to impeach an accused or a witness by proof of prior juvenile record. Ruth v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 522 S.W.2d 517, and Rivas v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 501 S.W.2d 918.
Another question, however, is presented when a reputation witness is being examined. As we said in Fortson v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 474 S.W.2d 234, at p. 235:
“It was not improper to inquire about appellant’s reputation from witnesses having personal knowledge of the same. The fact that appellant was a juvenile when this reputation was acquired would not affect the admissibility of such testimony.”
See also Walker v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 454 S.W.2d 415; Lee v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 470 S.W.2d 664; and Hart v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 447 S.W.2d 944.
Under these authorities, the question complained of was a proper inquiry because it was testing the witness’ knowledge of appellant’s reputation. If the question was proper, bad faith was not in the case.