Cravens v. State

Common to both civil and criminal actions is a general rule that questions as to place of residence, occupation and “background” of a witness may be asked in order to place before the jury facts from which they may judge his standing and weight to be given to his testimony. Williams v. State, 604 S.W.2d 146, 149 (Tex.Cr.App.1980); Carrillo v. State, 566 S.W.2d 902, 916 (Tex.Cr.App.1978); Elam v. State, 518 S.W.2d 367, 369 (Tex.Cr.App.1975); 37 Tex.Jur.3d 32-33, Evidence § 666. But that rule contemplates that such questions are part of a “preliminary inquiry” directed to a witness called by…