CALIFORNIA EVIDENCE: CIVIL AND CRIMINAL
...Character and Reputation Evidence
......Impermissible Uses
7 Cards On This Topic:

Expert's testimony regarding workplace violence was "profile" evidence of defendant's guilt and amounted to improper character evidence under FRE 404(a)(1).

Evidence D's wife experienced abuse as a child, to show 3d party culpability for abuse of child here, properly excluded as improper propensity evidence; abuse here required no specialized techniques and not similar to wife's experience.

Evidence of other crimes impermissibly admitted as evidence of D's propensity to commit similar crimes.

W's reputation for being dangerous not relevant to D's claim of self-defense where no evidence D knew of W's dangerousness or of his association with murder Vs and W had only seen D once and did not know his name.

Court properly found D's offer to stipulate to prior rape in lieu of V's testimony did not show his good character but was self-serving attempt to lessen impact of rape evidence.

Error to allow the prosecution to impeach defendant with conduct underlying prior conviction where defendant did not open the door to such impeachment during his direct testimony.

Where appearance of judicial bias, unfairness colors entire record, P need not make affirm. showing of prejudice; test whether ct.'s comments would cause reasonable person to doubt ct.'s impartiality or lack confidence in fairness of proceedings.