2012 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 52 - Civil Actions
Chapter 899 - Evidence
Section 52-145 - Certain witnesses not disqualified. Credibility.

(a) A person shall not be disqualified as a witness in any action because of, (1) his interest in the outcome of the action as a party or otherwise, (2) his disbelief in the existence of a supreme being, or (3) his conviction of crime.

(b) A person’s interest in the outcome of the action or his conviction of crime may be shown for the purpose of affecting his credibility.

(1949 Rev., S. 7868; P.A. 82-160, S. 61.)

History: P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section and inserted Subsec. indicators.

Cited. 3 CA 684. Cited. 7 CA 217. Cited. 20 CA 6. Cited. 22 CA 610. Cited. 23 CA 479; Id., 692. Cited. 26 CA 157. Cited. 38 CA 815.

Credit of witness may not be attacked by showing his conviction of a crime which is not infamous, that is, for which maximum penalty cannot be more than six months in jail. 23 CS 294. Cited. 33 CS 586. Cited. 36 CS 89.

Conviction of crime of trespass inadmissible under this statute. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 391. Any question about previous arrests is improper because statute allows questions about convictions only in establishing credibility and reputation of witness. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 441.

Subsec. (a):

Cited. 198 C. 454.

Cited. 7 CA 601. Cited. 34 CA 823.

Subsec. (b):

Cited. 199 C. 255. Cited. 227 C. 389. Cited. 228 C. 412. Trial court abused discretion in barring evidence of victim’s prior felony conviction for larceny since outcome of case depended upon relative credibility of victim and defendant, and state was allowed to impeach credibility of defendant with a prior felony conviction. 245 C. 351.

Cited. 3 CA 459. Cited. 6 CA 189. Cited. 7 CA 377; Id., 445, 451. Cited. 10 CA 71. Cited. 16 CA 346. Cited. 26 CA 758. Cited. 27 CA 279. Cited. 32 CA 773. Cited. 37 CA 722. Cited. 40 CA 151. Cited. 42 CA 810. Cited. 44 CA 280; Id., 790. Cited. 45 CA 390. Cited. 46 CA 285.