State v. Alexis

Hicks, J. —

Washington Rule of Evidence (ER) 609 became effective April 2, 1979, 91 Wn.2d 1117, 1149 (1978), and reads in part:(a) General Rule. For the purpose of attacking the credibility of a witness, evidence that he has been con victed of a crime shall be admitted if elicited from him or established by public record during cross-examination but only if the crime (1) was punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of 1 year under the law under which he was convicted, and the court determines that the probative value of admitting this evidence outweighs its prejudicial effect to the…