Devore v. United States

STEADMAN, Associate Judge:

In McAdoo v. United States, 515 A.2d 412 (D.C.1986), we held that a defendant’s juvenile adjudications cannot be used *1174to impeach the defendant’s character witnesses on cross-examination. Before us on this appeal is the question whether a character witness may be cross-examined about the wrongful acts of the defendant that underlie the juvenile adjudications. We hold that such acts may be used, subject to the heavy responsibility of the trial court to prevent any abuse.1 We must, however, vacate appellant’s unauthorized use of a motor vehicle conviction as he was…