Court Opinion

ID: 9602371
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 01:53:46.59267+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:02:03.153994
License: Public Domain

Bell, Justice,
concurring specially.
I agree with the majority’s holding that under the circumstances of this case, Hightower’s first offender guilty plea was admissible to disprove and contradict facts testified to by him. Such a holding is necessary to insure that the jury is not misled by false testimony.
I would, however, overrule the Court of Appeals’ holding in this case, to the effect that in a civil case a witness’ first offender guilty plea may be used to impeach him by showing that he has been convicted of a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude. Hightower v. General Motors Corp., 175 Ga. App. 112, 113-14 (332 SE2d 336) (1985). In that situation, the impeaching party’s interests in attacking the witness’ trustworthiness should not prevail over the interests of the first offender to be protected against the stigma of a criminal record. Similarly, to the extent that Moon v. State, 154 Ga. App. 312 (268 SE2d 366) (1980), implies that the state may use a defense witness’ first offender record to impeach him by showing that he has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, I would overrule it.