Sahin v. State

CHASANOW, Judge.

This appeal requires that we decide the appropriateness of calling character witnesses to testify to a criminal defendant’s good reputation for truthfulness. For the reasons indicated, we depart from the majority rule, and we hold that a criminal defendant on trial for a veracity impeaching offense 1 may, after testifying, offer evidence of his or her good character for truthfulness.

I

The defendant Isa Sahin, an American immigrant of Turkish descent, was arrested and charged with four counts each of distribution of cocaine and lesser included offenses. After a jury trial before…