People v. Mitchell

The use of character evidence, like prior convictions, for purposes of impeaching a defendant’s credibility while contradicting a proffered defense may well become the determinative factor in a criminal trial. The juris*686prudence of this state rejects the proposition that other crimes and misconduct are admissible to prove a defendant’s criminal disposition or propensity to commit the crime charged. Evidentiary exceptions which permit the admission of prior convictions and misconduct for limited purposes tread closely to the edge of this proposition. The courts of this state must be sensitive…