Employing Inconsistent Statements For Impeachment and As Substant
Employing Inconsistent Statements For Impeachment and As Substant
Employing Inconsistent Statements For Impeachment and As Substant
Volume 75 Issue 8
1977
Recommended Citation
Michael H. Graham, Employing Inconsistent Statements for Impeachment and as Substantive Evidence: A
Critical Review and Proposed Amendments of Federal Rules of Evidence 801 ( d ) ( 1 ) ( A ), 613, and 607,
75 MICH. L. REV. 1565 (1977).
Available at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mlr/vol75/iss8/2
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EMPLOYING INCONSISTENT STATEMENTS FOR
IMPEACHMENT AND AS SUBSTANTIVE EVIDENCE:
A CRITICAL REVIEW AND PROPOSED AMEND-
MENTS OF FEDERAL RULES OF EVIDENCE
801(d)(l)(A), 613, and 607
Michael H. Graham*
I. INTRODUCTION
1565
1566 Michigan Law Review [Vol. 75: 1565
10. See generally McCoRMICK'S HANDBOOK OF THE LAW OF EVIDENCE § 251 (2d
ed. E. Cleary 1972) [hereinafter cited as McCORMICK]; 4 J. WEINSTEIN & M. BERGER,
WEINSTEIN'S EVIDENCE ,r 801(d)(l)[Ol] (1976) [hereinafter cited as WEINSTEIN];
3A J. WIGMORE, EVIDENCE §§ 1018 & 998 n.3 (J. Chadbourn ed. 1970); Falknor,
The Hearsay Rule and Its Exceptions, 2 U.C.L.A. L. REV. 43 (1954); McCormick,
The Turncoat Witness: Previous Statements as Substantive Evidence, 25 TEXAS L.
REV. 573 (1947); Morgan, Hearsay Dangers and the Application of the Hearsay
Concept, 62 HARV. L. REV. 177 (1948); Reutlinger, Prior Inconsistent Stateme11ts:
Presently Inconsistent Doctrine, 26 HASTINGS L.J. 361 (1974); Silbert, Federal Rule
of Evidence 80l(dXIXA), 49 TEMP. L.Q. 880 (1976).
11. See 6 J. WIGMORE, supra note 10, § 1362; McCORMICK, supra note 10, § 245.
12. C. McCORMICK, HANDBOOK OF THE LAW OF EVIDENCE § 39 (1954) [herein-
after cited as EVIDENCE]. Compare FED. R. EVID. 804(b)(1) (former testimony ad-
missible as hearsay exception if given under oath) with FED. R. EVID. 801(d) (defin•
ing certain prior statements by witness and certain admissions by party-opponent as
"not hearsay") and FED. R. EVID. 803 (certain declarations admissible as hearsay ex-
ceptions regardless of whether declarant is available to testify or whether they were
given under oath) and FED. R. EVID. 804(b)(2)-804(b)(5) (certain declarations ad-
missible as hearsay exceptions if declarant is unavailable regardless of whether they
were given under oath).
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1569
Critics of the Orthodox Rule have also rejected the justification be-
hind the traditional requirement that the trier of fact observe the wit-
ness' demeanor when he makes the statement. As Judge Learned
Hand stated in dismissing the requirement:
If, from all that the jury see of the witness, they conclude that
what he says now is not the truth, but what he said before, they are
none the less deciding from what they see and hear of that person
and in court. 13
The core of the dispute over substantive admissibility of a
witness' prior inconsistent statements concerns the final challenge to
the trustworthiness of such statements-lack of contemporaneous
cross-examination. The critical question may be stated as follows:
What is the value of cross-examination that is not conducted contem-
poraneously with the making of the statement whose truth is in ques-
tion before the same trier of fact that must determine whether the
statement is truthful? The argument that noncontemporaneous
cross-examination cannot serve the function performed by cross-
examination conducted at the time of the witness' statement is illus-
trated by the following example. W, testifying on direct examina-
tion for the plaintiff, states at trial that plaintiff had a green light
when the cars entered the intersection. On cross-examination, de-
fense counsel forces W to admit that he feels sorry for the badly
injured plaintiff and that in fact plaintiff's traffic light was red. In
this situation, cross-examination by defense counsel has fulfilled its
purpose. The jury first saw and heard the witness testify to one fact
and then saw and heard him recant, thus entirely destroying the
value of his initial testimony. Now assume that W had recanted
prior to trial. If W's prior statement that the light was green for
the plaintiff were to be introduced at trial, the scenario would be
as follows: The defendant calls W, who testifies that the plaintiff
ran a red light. On cross-examination, the plaintiff's counsel con-
fronts W with his prior statement to a police officer that the light
was green for the plaintiff. W admits making the statement and ex-
plains upon redirect examination by defense counsel that he made
the prior statement only because he felt sorry for the badly injured
plaintiff.
In each of the above situations, the jury faces a choice between
two statements and has before it the witness' explanation for their
inconsistency. The crucial difference according to the proponents
of the Orthodox Rule is that in the first case the jury has seen the
13. Di Carlo v. United States, 6 F.2d 364, 368 (2d Cir. 1925).
1570 Michigan Law Review [Vol. 75:1565
14. Ruhala v. Roby, 379 Mich. 102, 124, 150 N.W.2d 146, 156 (1967).
15. The difference becomes more pronounced in cases in which the witness pro-
fesses a lack of memory about whether he made the prior statement or about its sub-
ject matter. The effectiveness of rehabilitative redirect in these cases varies inversely
with the extent of the witness' memory loss. Probably at some point the inability
of the criminal defense attorney to conduct effective redirect examination of a wit-
ness forgetful of the substance of the alleged inconsistent statement would preclude
substantive admission of the prior statement as violative of the sixth amendment
right to confrontation. See California v. Green, 399 U.S. 149, 168-69 (1970); 4
WEINSTEIN, supra note 10, 1m 801(d)(l)(A)[04], 801(d)(l)(A)[06], 80l(d)(l)(A)
[07].
16. A letter to the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee from the Stand-
ing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure and the Advisory Committee on
Rules of Evidence of the Judicial Conference of the United States (May 22, 1974),
quoted in 4 WEINSTEIN, supra note 10, at 801-6.
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1571
this argument one step further, the rule's supporters assert that prior
inconsistent statements may be completely fabricated, 26 a danger
that can be eliminated only by the requirement that testimony not
be accepted substantively unless it is given in court, under oath, and
subject to cross-examination. Implicitly rejected by this argument
is the view that examination of either the declarant when he testi-
fies in court or the witness presenting extrinsic proof of the prior
inconsistent statement will successfully expose a fabrication or bring
to light any illegitimate influence that acted to color the declarant's
prior statement. Proponents of the Orthodox Rule also argue that
no need for a change exists, since present hearsay exceptions permit
substantive admission of prior inconsistent statements that are in fact
sufficiently trustworthy. 27 Finally, they point out that prior incon-
sistent statements may be used to impeach-and thus to ·neutralize-
an opponent's witness. If a party's own witness unfavorably changes
his story prior to trial, the party may simply refrain from calling the
witness. If the party calling the witness is surprised and affirmatively
damaged by the witness' testimony, he may impeach the witness with
his prior inconsistent statement. 28 Confrontation with the inconsis-
tent statement coupled with fear of perjury prosecution are asserted
to be sufficient to encourage the witness to adopt the prior statement
if he actually believes it to be true. 29
be he ·a lawyer, police officer, insurance claim agent, or private detective, can
listen to a potential witness and then prepare a statement for signature by the
witness which reflects the interest of the investigator's client or agency. Adverse
details are omitted; subtle changes of emphasis are made. It is regrettable but
true that some lawyers will distort the truth to win a case and that some police
officers will do the same to "solve" a crime, particularly one which has aroused
the ·.public interest or caused public controversy. Or the police officer may be
seeking to put away a "dangerous criminal" who the officer ''knows" is guilty
but against whom evidence is lacking.
See also Goings v. United States, 377 F.2d 753, 762 n.13 (8th Cir. 1967):
Today the art· of statement taking is a recognized science. Inbau & Reid,
Criminal Interrogation & Confessions (1962); Schwartz, Trial of Automobile
Accident Cases, Vol. I, § 4, pp. 5, 6, "Requisites of Witnesses Statements", 3rd
ed. (1965); Smithson, Insurance Law Journal, June, 1958, "Liability Claims and
Litigation", pp. 375-403; Schweitzer, Cyclopedia of Trial Practice, Vol. I, § 30,
p. 58, "Securing Statements from Witnesses" (1954); Donaldson Casualty
Claims Practice, "Richard D. Erwin Series in Risk & Insurance" (1964), pp.
481-500; Averbach, Handling Accident Cases, Vol. 2, p. 269, (1958). Whether
the problem be one of fault in communication to a good faith interrogator or
culpable strategy of the ·examiner, is immaterial. The fact remains, most ex
parte statements reflect the subjective interest and attitude of the examiner a!I
well.
26. See ILLINOIS SUPREME CoURT COMMITTEE ON EVIDENCE, MAJORl1Y REPORT
ON THE USE OF PRIOR INCONSISTENT STATEMENTS OF WITNESSES AS SUBSTANTIVE
PROOF 16 (1971) [hereinafter cited as MAJORl1Y REPORT].
27. Marshall, An Analysis, in MAJORl1Y REPORT, supra note 26, at 15 [herein-
after cited as Marshall].
28. See text at note 135 infra.
29. MAJORITY REPORT, supra note 26, at 8.
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1575
34. See H.R. REP. No. 650, 93d Cong., 1st Sess. 13 (1973). See also United
States v. Leslie, 542 F.2d 285 (5th Cir. 1976); notes 38, 45 & 46 infra.
35. See United States v. De Sisto, 329 F.2d 929 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 377 U.S.
979 (1964). In United States v. Cunningham, 446 F.2d 194, 197 n.3 (3d Cir.), cert.
denied, 404 U.S. 90 (1971), the court said: "Professor Chadbourn, referring to this
as 'the Second Circuit view,' has noted the carefully marked boundaries which limit
it. 3A WIGMORE, EVIDENCE§ 1018, at 997-98 (Chadbourn rev. 1970)."
36. Hearings on H.R. 5463 Before the Subcomm. on Criminal Justice, 93d Cong.,
1st Sess., 170 Supp. (1973 ). The Second Circuit rule was developed in criminal
cases. Since rule 801(d)(l)(A) is applicable to civil cases as well, the inclusion of
deposition testimony was a natural and logical extension.
37. See H.R. REP. No. 650, 93d Cong., 1st Sess. 13 (1973)[hereinafter cited as
HOUSE REPORT]. Although it is not clear in the House committee report, the right
of cross-examination in the formal proceeding presumably was intended to require
that, in a criminal case, the party against whom the testimony was being offered have
the opportunity and motive to develop the testimony by direct, cross, or redirect ex-
amination. Cf. FED. R. Evm. 804(b)(l) (similar approach to admission of prior
testimony); HousE REPORT, supra at 15 (same).
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1577
to place limitations on proposed rule 80l(d)(l)(A). Under the
House's approach, "[u]nlike in most other situations involving un-
sworn or oral statements, there can be no dispute as to whether the
prior statement was made; and . . . the context of a formal proceed-
ing, an oath, and the opportunity for cross-examination provide firm
additional assurance of the reliability of the prior statement."38 Al-
though rule 801(d)(l)(A) was to apply in both civil and criminal
proceedings, various statements in the legislative record suggest that,
in attacking the reliability of a witness' prior inconsistent statements,
the House was focusing on the rule's potential impact upon the
criminal defendant. 39 The House was concerned that a defendant
could be convicted solely on the basis of a witness' alleged out-of-
court statement, even though the statement was disputed by the wit-
ness' own testimony and no certain evidence existed establishing that
the witness had accurately recounted the information in the statement
and, more fundamentally, that the statement had ever been made.
After the House adopted its version of rule 80l(d)(l)(A), 40
38. HousE REPORT, supra note 37, at 13. Thus the House believed that the rule
would both ensure reliability and help neutralize the effect of any influence, coercion,
or deceit directed at the witness.
39. See, e.g., letter from James F. Schaefer, Chairman of the Committee on Fed-
eral Evidence and Procedure, Trial Lawyers of America, to Rep. William L. Hungate
(June 22, 1973) and accompanying material, in Hearings on Proposed Rules of Evi-
dence Before the Subcomm. 011 Criminal Justice of the House Comm. on the Judici-
ary, 93d Cong., 1st Sess. 127-29 Supp. (1973); Hearings 011 H.R. 5463 (Federal Rules
of Evidence) Before the Senate Comm. on the Judiciary, 93d Cong., 2d Sess. 50-52
(1974) (statement of Edward W. Cleary). But see letter from Edward W. Cleary
to Herbert E. Hoffman, Counsel, Subcommittee on Reform of Federal Criminal
Laws, House Committee on the Judiciary, May 31, 1973, in Hearings on Proposed
Rules of Evidence Before the Subcomm. on Criminal Justice of the House Comm. 011
the Judiciary, 93d Cong., 1st Sess. 98-99 Supp. (1973) (rejecting exclusion of such evi-
dence). See also letter from Hon. Albert B. Maris to Herbert E. Hoffman, May 30,
1973, in Hearings on Proposed Rules of Evidence Before the Subcomm. on Criminal
Justice of the House Comm. 011 the Judiciary, 93d Cong., 1st Sess. 98 Supp. (1973).
40. Professor Cleary, in testimony before the Senate subcommittee discussing the
limitations placed by the House upon the admissibility of substantive evidence, stated:
"Their effect is for all practical purposes virtually to destroy the utility of the rule
as a solution for the problems it was designed to meet, such as fading memories,
bribery, intimidation, and other influences which cause witnesses to change their
stories." Hearings on H.R. 5463 (Federal Rules of Evidence) Before the Senate
Comm. on the Judiciary, 93d Cong., 2d Sess. 51 (1974) (statement of Edward W.
Cleary).
Professor Cleary had earlier stated that
[t]he redraft would virtually destroy the utility of provision (A), which deals
with prior inconsistent statements. If the witness has made a prior statement
under oath, the threat of a perjury charge makes it highly unlikely that he will
subsequently relate a different story again under oath. Hence the instances in
which the rule would operate under the suggested redraft would be greatly cur-
tailed. The problem area consists of cases in which the prior statement was not
under oath, whether in the course of a judicial proceeding or not, and a rule
which does not deal with these cases is of no practical significance.
1578 Michigan Law Review [Vol. 75:1565
Letter from Edward W. Cleary to Herbert E. Hoffman, May 31, 1973, in Hearings
on Proposed Rules of Evidence Before the Subcomm. on Criminal Justice of the
House Comm. on the Judiciary, 93d Cong., 1st Sess. 98-99 Supp. (1973 ).
The foregoing testimony may well have been a slight overstatement made in the
heat of a battle to have the Supreme Court-promulgated rule 801(d)(l)(A) approved
by Congress. Statements made at the grand jury or preliminary hearing (in criminal
cases) or in depositions (in civil proceedings) would have substantive effect. These
proceedings give the state and the civil litigant an important opportunity to solidify
the testimony of its witnesses. One must admit, however, that although it is not
uncommon for witnesses to testify differently at trial than at deposition or grand
jury, these inconsistencies are generally slight. In fact, with respect to many such
statements, one needs a magnifying glass to find the discrepancy; it often manifests
itself only in the attitude of examining counsel.
41. S. REP. No. 1277, 93d Cong., 2d Sess., 15-16 (1974). The Senate committee
first noted that of all the traditional hearsay exceptions only the former testimony
exception requires that the prior statement be made under oath. The committee then
asserted that the jury has sufficient demeanor evidence to judge the credibility of the
prior statement if the declarant was presently testifying in court. Finally, the com-
mittee felt that its rule was superior because the prior statements, having been made
closer in time to the events they describe, would have been subject to less improper
influe9ce and would have been made when the witness' memory was relatively fresh.
42. CONF. REP. No. 1597, 93d Cong., 2d Sess. 10 (1974).
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1579
43. EVIDENCE, supra note 12, § 39 states this principle as the hazard of reporting
mistransmission, including the risks of honest error or of fabrication.
44. Although Congress' substantial concern over the reliability of prior incon-
sistent statements would seem to argue for a strict reading of rule 80l(d)(l)(A),
the early experience of the rule in the courts suggests that it may be broadened in
two ways: first, under the "other proceedings" language of the rule itself, and, second,
under the catchall hearsay exception of rule 803 (24).
In United States v. Castro-Ayon, 537 F.2d 1055 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 429 U.S.
983 (1976), a case involving the breadth of rule 801(d)(l)(A)'s reference to "other
proceedings," the Ninth Circuit decided that sworn tape-recorded statements made
during interrogation by a border agent were substantively admissible. Examining the
legislative history of rule 801(d)(l)(A), the court, while noting that the phrase
"other proceedings" was explicitly intended to cover grand jury proceedings, found
the term not so limited, reasoning that Congress could easily have made such limita-
tion express. 537 F.2d at 1057 n.3. Moreover, the court argued that inclusion of
the border interrogation within the "other proceedings" language of rule 801(d)(l)
(A) was supported by the similarity of such interrogation to a grand jury proceeding:
[W]e note that the immigration proceeding before Agent Pearce bears many
similarities to a grand-jury proceeding: both are investigatory, ex parte, inquisi-
tive, sworn, basically prosecutorial, held before an officer other than the arrest-
ing officer, recorded, and held in circumstances of some legal formality. In-
deed, this immigration proceeding provides more legal rights for the witnesses
than does a grand jury: the right to remain totally silent, the right to counsel,
and the right to have the interrogator inform the witness of these rights.
537 F.2d at 1058.
Although the court noted at the same page that not "every sworn statement given
during a police-station interrogation would be admissible," the logic of the opinion
does not readily provide a clear stopping point. In Castro-Ayon it5elf, the fact that
the statements were tape-recorded and that the witnesses later admitted their making
would appear to satisfy the standards of accuracy and reliability set by Congress.
Whether similar safeguards will exist in other situations to which rule 801(d)(l)(A)
may be extended remains to be seen.
Although Castro-Ayon may well have charted the outer boundaries of rule 801(d)
( 1)(A), there exists another avenue by which a witness' prior inconsistent statement
may gain substantive admission-the catchall hearsay exception of Federal Rule of
Evidence 803(24). This rule excludes from the hearsay rule
[a] statement not specifically covered by any of the foregoing exceptions but
having equivalent circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness, if the court deter-
mines that (A) the statement is offered as evidence of a material fact; (B) the
statement is more probative on the point for which it is offered than any other
evidence which the proponent can procure through reasonable efforts; and (C)
the general purposes of these rules and the interests of justice will best be served
by admission of the statement into evidence. However, a statement may not be
admitted under this exception unless the proponent of it makes known to the ad-
verse party sufficiently in advance of the trial or hearing to provide the adverse
party with a fair opportunity to prepare to meet it, his intention to offer the
statement and the particulars of it, including the name and address of the declar-
ant.
In United States v. Iaconetti, 406 F. Supp. 554 (E.D.N.Y.), affd., 540 F.2d 574
(2d Cir. 1976), rule 803(24) was asserted to provide an alternative basis for the ad-
mission of a witness' prior consistent statement. The trial court noted briefly that
the statement was also admissible under rule 801(d)(2)(C) (admissions by an
agent) and rule 801 (d)(l)(B) (prior consistent statement to rebut charge of recent
fabrication), but devoted most of its analysis to the statement's admissibility under
1580 Michigan Law Review [Vol. 75: 1565
rule 803 (24). The court found that the witness' prior statement possessed circum-
stantial guarantees of trustworthiness, in that it was made minutes after the event it
related and was made to a business partner and attorney of the witness, thus suggest-
ing minimal risks of faulty memory or insincerity. That the witness was available
for cross-examination regarding the statement's making was also deemed to support
its reliability. With respect to the other requirements of rule 803(24), the court
found that the statement was evidence of a material fact, and, moreover, the most pro-
bative evidence available since there was a direct conflict between the testimony of
the defendant and of the witness who had allegedly made the prior statement. The
importance of the evidence to resolution of that conflict also indicated to the court
that admission of the prior statement was consistent both with the general purposes
of rule 803 (24) and with the interests of justice. Finally, although the defendant
did not receive notice of the government's intention to produce the statement until
after the trial had begun-and thus arguably outside the period required by rule 803
(24 )-the court ruled that it was sufficient that the defendant had received the notice
five days before the government's actual use of the statement. The Second Circuit
subsequently approved of the court's application of rule 803(24). 540 F.2d 574.
In a recent case, United States v. Leslie, 542 F.2d 285 (5th Cir. 1976), the Fifth
Circuit held that the analysis of rule 803(24) developed in Jaconetti supported sub-
stantive admission of a witness' prior inconsistent statement. In Leslie, three alleged
accomplices of the defendant, called to the stand as court witnesses, testified that the
defendant was not aware that a car that he later sold was a stolen vehicle. The wit-
nesses admitted having given prior statements to the FBI that contradicted that testi-
mony, but, claiming that they had been influenced by expectations of favorable treat-
ment and that they had also been under the influence of various drugs, the witnesses
asserted that parts of those statements were untrue and that other parts were not
within their memory. In response, the government introduced evidence to show that
the prior statements had been freely given, without promise of reward and unaffected
by drugs. Although the trial judge had briefly instructed the jury not to consider the
witnesses' prior statements as substantive evidence, the court on appeal did not reach
the question whether that instruction was adequate, as it concluded after reviewing
Jaconetti that the prior statements were admissible as substantive evidence under rule
803(24). In support of its conclusion, the court cited five circumstantial guarantees
of the statements' reliability: first, the declarants were available for cross-examina•
tion; second, the statements followed the events they described by only a few hours;
third, the declarants admitted voluntarily signing forms waiving their right to re-
main silent; fourth, the witnesses admitted making the prior statements; and fifth, the
three statements, made before the declarants could agree on one story, were substan•
tially identical. The court discounted the witnesses' mere "hope" of favorable treat•
ment and thought the evidence refuted their claim of having been under the influence
of drugs. With respect to the other requirements of rule 803(24), the court found
the statements to be evidence on the material issue of whether the defendant was the
ringleader of the group or was just innocently along for the ride. Additionally, the
statements were said to be the most probative evidence available, since only the four
persons involved in the theft and transportation actually knew what had been
planned. As the evidence of these plans was conflicting, introduction of the prior
statements was asserted to best serve the interests of justice, the jury needing "all the
help it could get." 542 F.2d at 291. Although the notice required by rule 803(24)
was apparently not given, the court, following laconetti, ruled that strict adherence
to that requirement could be dispensed with where, as the court found to be true in
Leslie, the opposing party was not prejudiced.
laconetti and Leslie suggest that courts will use rule 803(24) to justify substan-
tive admission of prior consistent and inconsistent statements of in-court witnesses
when such statements appear reliable. Technical requirements such as notice will
likely be liberally construed. With respect to a witness' prior inconsistent statement,
even though the statement may not be admissible under rule 801(d)(l)(A), the wit•
ness' availability for cross-examination, strong evidence that the statement was in fact
made, and the presence of a serious conflict between the prior statement and the wit-
ness' in-court testimony are likely to argue persuasively that the statement be ad•
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1581
ment had been given substantive effect, noting, however, that "[e]ven if this testi-
mony were in the record, we conclude that there is sufficient evidence against de-
fendant."
46. See 4 WEINSTEIN, supra note 10, ,r 801(d)(l)(A)[0l] at 801-76.1 (1975);
Stalmack, Prior Inconsistent Statements: Congress Takes a Compromising Step Back-
ward in Enacting Rule 80/(dXIXA), 8 LoY. Cm. L.J. 251, 267 (1977).
47. The same issue arises with respect to admissions. As experienced trial coun-
sel know, it is not unusual for one party to claim that the opponent said something
that the opponent flatly denies having said. Here, the rules of evidence say the jury
is to decide the issue of credibility, and yet this situation and that regarding the sub-
stantive admissibility of prior inconsistent statements would appear to be identical.
Moreover, how is fabrication by the in-court declarant of alleged present sense im-
pressions, excited utterances, or other hearsay exceptions prevented? What, then, dis-
tinguishes testimony regarding prior inconsistent statements of an in-court declarant
from testimony of a witness _relating an alleged admission or hearsay exception? In
what sense do prior inconsistent statements lack the indicia of reliability thought to
justify admission of recognized hearsay exceptions? On what ground does the adver-
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1583
sary process accept the risk that a party will fabricate a statement of his opponent
but reject the same risk regarding statements of a witness unless such statements oth-
erwise fall into a recognized hearsay exception?
48. If the witness also admits that his prior inconsistent statement is true, the
statement is substantively admissible as adopted testimony. See, e.g., United States
v. Tavares, 512 F.2d 872 (9th Cir. 1975); United States v. Ellis, 461 F.2d 962 (2d
Cir.), cert. denied, 409 U.S. 866 (1972); Tripp v. United States, 295 F.2d 418 (10th
Cir. 1961); Stevens v. United States, 256 F.2d 619, 623 n.9 (9th Cir. 1958).
"When a witness thus affirms the truth of a prior statement, the earlier state-
ment is to be considered 'not only as bearing on the credibility of the witness but
as affirmative evidence.' . . • fl1he trier of the facts has 'two conflicting statements
. . . of equal force as evidence.'" United States v. Borelli, 336 F.2d 376, 391 (2d
Cir. 1964), cert. denied sub nom. Mogavero v. United States, 379 U.S. 960 (1965)
(citation omitted), in part quoting Stewart v. Baltimore & O.R.R., 137 F.2d 527, 529
(2d Cir. 1943), and Zimberg v. United States, 142 F.2d 132, 136 (1st Cir.), cert.
denied, 323 U.S. 712 (1944).
49. See United States v. Schwartz, 252 F. Supp. 866 (E.D. Pa. 1966).
1584 Michigan Law Review [Vol. 75:156S
50. McCormick, 25 TEXAS L. REv. 573, supra note 10, at 588. See also EVI-
DENCE, supra note 12, § 39, at 82.
51. Evidence Act, 1938, 1 & 2 Geo. 6 c. 28, § 1, repealed by Civil Evidence
Act, 1968, c. 64, § 20(2). The personal knowledge requirement was also incorpo-
rated in a proposal advanced by Professor Falknor. Out-of-court declarations would
have been substantively admissible under the Falknor proposal if
previously made by a person who is present at the hearing and available for cross-
examination if the judge finds that (a) the declarant had an adequate opportu-
nity to perceive the event or condition which the statement narrates, describes
or explains and (b) the statement was written or signed by the declarant or the
making of the statemept is acknowledged by the declarant in his testimony in
the present proceeding.
Falknor, supra note 9, at 54. Note that, as is true of Professor McCormick's pro-
posal and of the 1938 English Evidence Act, the rule designed by Professor Falknor
would apply to all out-of-court declarations, regardless of whether inconsistent with
in-court testimony.
52. Falknor alone discusses the need for a personal knowledge requirement, and
he considers only its impact upon cross-examination, thus failing to analyze the sig-
nificance of its exclusion of all second-hand hearsay not grounded in personal knowl-
edge of the facts related. Falknor, supra note 9, at 53-54. See text at notes 53-62,
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1585
53. The personal knowledge requirement may thus reflect a belief that a witness
is less likely to repeat another person's statement if he knows from his own observa-
tions that the statement is false.
54. See text at notes 34 & 39-46 supra.
55. Since the adoption of the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Fifth Circuit has
examined the certainty of making factor with respect to the substantive admissibility
under rule 803 (24) of prior inconsistent statements not meeting the stricter require-
ments of rule 80l(d)(l)(A). Rule 803(24) authorizes substantive admission of
hearsay statements not included within any specific exception if notice of their in-
tended use is given and they possess "equivalent circumstantial guarantees of trust-
worthiness" and meet certain additional requirements regarding probative value. See
note 44 supra. In United States v. Leslie, 542 F.2d 285 (5th Cir. 1976), discussed
in note 44 supra, the Fifth Circuit upheld the substantive admissibility of prior writ-
ten statements of three witnesses who at trial denied the truth of parts of their state-
ments and claimed lapse of memory with respect to other parts. The court, after dis-
cussing the various indicia of reliability, stated that, "[p]erhaps most significantly,
for all practical purposes they admitted making the statements." 542 F.2d at 290.
The court distinguished United States v. Sisto, 534 F.2d 616 (5th Cir. 1976), an
earlier Fifth Circuit case that denied substantive admission to a witness' prior incon-
sistent statement, as follows:
These factors distinguish this case from United States v. Sisto, . . . in which
we held that the trial court had committed plain error by failing to instruct the
jury that prior statements allegedly made by the defendant's accomplice were ad-
missible for impeachment only. In Sisto the only evidence that the statements
were made was the testimony of a government agent. The alleged declarant cat-
egorically denied having made the statements, and there was no evidence of a
writing or transcription. The House Judiciary Committee was no doubt con-
cerned about exactly this problem of a possible "manufactured" prior statement
being used against a criminal defendant when it rejected rule 801(d)(l) as pro-
posed by the Supreme Court. Once a witness has admitted making the prior
statement and only disputes the truth of its contents, however, there is no prob-
lem of a contrived extrajudicial statement getting before the jury for use as sub-
stantive evidence.
542 F.2d at 291 n.6 (emphasis original).
56. 4 WEINSTEIN, supra note 10, ,m 80l(d)(l)(A)[03]-801(d)(l)(A}[08]; Falk-
nor, supra note 10, at 54.
1586 Michigan Law Review [Vol. 75: 1565
of the offense, that the defendant did not say anything to him at that
time, and that he appeared in normal health and was not carrying
anything. Assume further that the prosecution possesses a written
statement by the friend that concerns the night in question. While
on the stand, the friend admits having written and signed the state-
ment, though he denies its factual accuracy. Under the proposals
discussed above involving personal knowledge, a prior inconsistent
statement contained in the friend's written declaration to the effect
that the defendant had admitted robbing the bank would not be ad-
missible as substantive evidence, since the friend had no personal
knowledge of the matter dealt with in the prior inconsistent state-
ment. 57 Conversely, a prior inconsistent statement in the friend's
declaration to the effect that when the defendant entered the bar
he was very sweaty and out of breath, was wearing a torn shirt,
and was carrying a brown paper bag would be substantively admis-
sible, since the friend's prior inconsistent statement sufficiently
demonstrates his personal knowledge of the matters stated. 58
Both the McCormick proposal and the English statute would
keep from the jury the first prior inconsistent statement in our ex-
ample. This type of statement-the "double hearsay" statement,
typified by the admission-confession of the criminal defendant-is
the kind of evidence that has most concerned the judicial system, 50
for it raises the greatest danger of misapplication by the jury and
the greatest risk of total fabrication by the witness. 60 Under either
57. Double hearsay statements are substantively admissible only if there exists an
exception to the hearsay rule at each level. See FED. R. Evm. 805.
58. See FED. R. Evm. 602.
59. In United States v. Briggs, 457 F.2d 908, 910 n.3 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 409
U.S. 986 (1972), a case involving the impeachment by a prior inconsistent statement
of a turncoat informer called by the defendant, Judge Friendly stated: "As we
pointed out in Cunningham, it is true that the statements would be admissible as af-
firmative evidence under Rule 801(d) (1) of the Proposed Federal Rules of Evidence.
. . . This case affords another illustration how dangerous such a rule would be."
60. The practical difficulties faced by the criminal defendant in opposing the use
of an alleged oral inconsistent statement are well stated in 4 WEINSTEIN, supra note
10, 1f 80l(d)(l)(A)[05] n.4:
Most instances in federal criminal cases as the rule was adopted by the Su-
preme Court would have pitted the witness against an FBI agent who inter-
viewed the witness while accompanied by a colleague and made a report on the
essentials of the story. In such a swearing contest the witness will almost al-
ways be at a disadvantage so far as the jury is concerned. Even should there
be some discrepancies between the FBI report and an agent's testimony, the use
of the report-available as [§ 18 U.S.C.] 3500 material-will generally tend to
support the agent's credibility because it will indicate that a contemporaneous
memorandum was made. The agent on redirect will be able to explain that the
report did not contain all the details and that the regular Bureau practice is to
destroy original notes when the typed report is prepared. The realities of the
situation explain why defense counsel and members of Congress were so opposed
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1587
68. The proposal does not extend the personal knowledge requirement to state-
ments now admissible pursuant to rule 801(d)(l)(A) primarily because that require-
ment has never been incorporated as part of the common-law hearsay exception for
former testimony, an exception closely paralleling rule 801(d)(l)(A)'s reference to
testimony and depositions. Moreover, while the same arguments put forth in the Arti-
cle are applicable to such prior inconsistent statements, additional indications of ab-
solute reliability are provided by the formality and, in some cases, public nature of
the prior proceeding. With respect to statements concededly made, such formality
does significantly reduce the effect of outside influence, coercion, see note 74 infra,
and deception, see text at note 76 infra. In any event, application of the personal
knowledge requirement to such prior statement would certainly not be unacceptable.
As previously noted, note 45 supra, Uniform Rule of Evidence 801(d)(l)(A)
permits substantive admissibility of all prior inconsistent statements in civil proceed-
ings. While the proposal made in this Article does not differentiate between civil
and criminal proceedings, the reduced practical effect of blanket substantive admissi-
1590 Michigan Law Review [Vol. 15:1565
74. The question of the voluntariness of the prior inconsistent statement was
faced in LaFrance v. Bohlinger, 499 F.2d 29 (1st Cir. 1974). The case involved the
question whether a witness' prior out-of-court statement inculpating the defendant
could be used solely for purposes of impeachment without a judicial determination
that the statement was voluntarily made. The court concluded that a preliminary
hearing on voluntariness was constitutionally mandated, relying in part on Napue v.
Illinois, 360 U.S. 264, 269 (1959): "The principle that a State may not knowingly
use false evidence, including false testimony, to obtain a tainted conviction, implicit
in any concept of ordered liberty, does not cease to apply merely because the false
testimony goes only to the credibility of the witness."
The problem of police coercion of witnesses to obtain statements must be faced
squarely. Unfortunately, the proposed substantive admissibility of witnesses' incon-
sistent signed or written statements may increase police use of this tactic. Even with-
out such substantive admissibility and despite the discouragement of the voucher rule,
see text at notes 133-46 infra, police officers upon occasion have apparently
coerced statements from witnesses. See Bradford v. Johnson, 354 F. Supp. 1331
(E.D. Mich. 1972), aftd., 416 F.2d 66 (6th Cir. 1973); People v. Underwood, 61
Cal. 2d 113, 389 P.2d 937, 37 Cal. Rptr. 313 (1964); but see People v. Bates,
25 Ill. App. 3d 748, 324 N.E.2d 88 (1975).
75. The right of confrontation, of course, applies to prior inconsistent statements
placed in evidence against the criminal defendant. See generally Davenport, The
Confrontation Clause and the Co-Conspirator Exception in Criminal Prosecutions:
A Functional Analysis, 85 HARV, L. REV. 1378 (1972); Griswold, The Due Process
Revolution and Confrontation, 119 U. PA. L. REv. 711 (1971); Read, The New Con-
frontation-Hearsay Dilemma, 45 S. CAL. L. REV. 1 (1972); Semerjian, The Right of
Confrontation, 55 A.B.A.J. 152 (1969); Silbert, supra note 10.
For a general discussion of confrontation issues raised when a witness admits, de-
nies, or does not recall either the making or substance of a prior inconsistent state-
ment, see 4 WEINSTEIN, supra note 10, ,m 80l(d)(l)(A)[0l]-801(d)(l)(A)[08],
Given the requirements of the proposed rule, it seems very unlikely that a witness
will in fact deny making the statement. If the witness does admit making the state-
ment, he may either affirm or deny the truth of its contents or deny recollection of
the underlying events. If its truth is affirmed, the prior statement has become cur-
rent testimony and will be given substantive effect. See 4 WEINSTEIN, supra note 10,
801(d)(l)(A)[02]. If the statement's truth is denied, the prior statement may
also be given substantive effect pursuant to California v. Green, 399 U.S. 149 (1970).
If the witness denies knowledge or memory of the underlying event, the court must
decide whether the witness' "apparent la_pse of memory so affected [the defendant's]
right to cross-examination as to make a critical difference in the application of the
Confrontation Clause." 399 U.S. at 168. In reaching this question upon remand in
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1593
that the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard has already been
applied in criminal cases to determine the voluntariness of a prior
inconsistent statement. 76
19. See, e.g., Sanger v. Bacon, 180 Ind. 322, 328, 101 N.E. 1001, 1003 (1913).
See also Ladd, Some Observations on Credibility: Impeachment of Witnesses, 52
CORNELL L.Q. 239, 253 (1967) (citation omitted):
A final observation about the limitations on impeaching statements is that
the degree of inconsistency must be real. When the statements are placed side
by side, it must be possible to say that both cannot be true. Only in this cir-
cumstance will the triers have reason to nullify the testimony given in court,
which is the only justification for the admissibility of the out-of-court statement.
80. EVIDENCE, supra note 12, ,§ 34, at 68.
81. 3A J. WIGMORE, supra note 10, § 1040, at 1048.
82. See United States v. Morgan, 555 F.2d 238, 242 (9th Cir. 1977) (approving
the liberal view of inconsistency under the Federal Rules of Evidence).
83. 539 F.2d 244 (1st Cir. 1976).
84. 539 F.2d at 254.
85. 539 F.2d at 254.
August 1977) Employing Inconsistent Statements 1595
86. The Queen's Case, 129 Eng. Rep. at 987-88; The Charles Morgan, 115 U.S.
69 (1885). See Hale, Impeachment of Witnesses by Prior Inconsistent Statements,
10 S. CAL. L. R.Ev. 135 (1937); Ladd, supra note 79.
87. Crowley v. Page, 173 Eng. Rep. 344 (1837); Angus v. Smith, 173 Eng. Rep.
1228 (1829).
88. See McCORMICK, supra note 10, § 37, at 72.
89. 129 Eng. Rep. at 977. For a criticism of the court's analysis, see 4 J. WIG-
MORE, supra note 10, § 1260; Hale, supra note 86, at 147-49 & n.60.
1596 Michigan Law Review [Vol. 75:1565
but rather when any question concerning the statement was put to
the witness on cross-examination.
Commentators have strongly criticized the requirement that a
witness must be shown his prior written statement before any cross-
examination commences concerning its contents. Wigmore termed
the requirement "a rule which for unsoundness of principle, im-
propriety of policy, and practical inconvenience in trials [is] the
most notable mistake that can be found among the rulings upon the
present subject." 90 Others have echoed that judgment, emphasizing
that showing the prior written statement to the witness on cross-
examination may warn the dissembling witness or refresh the memory
of the witness who is forgetful, thereby screening such infirmities
from the jury's inspection. One commentator has phrased the
objection as follows:
Grant the argument of the judges that a letter or other writing is the
best evidence of its contents and that therefore a witness should not
be questioned to give his version of the letter's contents from
memory, if it is desired to prove what the letter says. But there are
nevertheless many cases in which the purpose of the questioning is
not to prove the contents of the letter, but rather to test the credibil-
ity of the witness. If a witness has claimed to remember the details
of an event, but relates falsely what he wrote in a letter associated
with the event, that fact diminishes the trust which might be attached
to his memory. Similarly, if the witness falsely denied writing a par-
ticular letter, or lies about what he wrote, that fact obviously is evi-
dence that he is likely to be lying in other parts of his testimony about
related matters. But if the rule in the Queen's Case is followed, and
it is required that the witness first be shown or read the letter, this
valuable chance to test his memory and veracity is lost. A forgetful
witness will have his memory of the letter refreshed or corrected,
though his memory for the rest of his testimony remains faulty. A
lying witness will discover the matters on which he may safely lie and
those in which he must equivocate, thus guarding the lie from discov-
ery. 91
B. Prior Federal Practice: Foundation and
Extrinsic Evidence
Although the federal courts accepted in principle the foundation
, 1• 90. 4 J. WIGMORE, supra note 10, § 1259. McCormick also criticized dogmatic
•• 1 ; 1.~pplication of the rule, but he would have allowed the trial judge discretion to apply
. . . , it in order to prevent counsel from abusing cross-examination to induce the forgetful
, , ,
1
witness to widen the gap between his testimony and his prior written statement. EVI•
DENCE, supra note 12, § 28.
91. Stern & Grosh, supra note 78, at 198. Of course, the process of discovery has
significantly reduced the likelihood that the witness will in fact be surprised and thus
be dramatically confronted with an alleged prior inconsistent writing. The issue of
fairness to the witness would thus seem to have little practical significance.
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1597
rule was deemed satisfied. 99 However, the federal courts did strictly
enforce a requirement that the opportunity for such explanation must
occur before the introduction of extrinsic evidence. 100
An additional component of the foundation rule that developed
in the federal courts, the good-faith-basis requirement, prevented
counsel from making unwarranted insinuations that a witness had
made a prior inconsistent statement. This requirement vested the
court with discretion to demand the assurance of counsel that he
could support the foundation question of whether the witness had
made a prior statement with evidence of the alleged statement. 101
In United States v. Bohle, 102 the court stated the rule as follows:
Where a trial judge is aware of the possibility that counsel intends
to ask an impeaching question having prejudicial implications, it is
proper and advisable, in the interests of avoiding abuse and of insur-
ing a fair trial to both the prosecution and the defendant, that the
judge inquire of counsel whether the question on which he is about
to embark is for the purpo~e of impeachment and whether and how
counsel intends to follow up the question with impeaching proof. If
there is no intention to introduce such impeaching proof, the question
may, in the court's discretion, be properly excluded.103
If a witness responding to the foundation question denied mak-
ing a prior statement, federal courts then required the cross-
99. See generally United States v. Franzese, 392 F.2d 954, 959 (2d Cir. 1968),
vacated on other grounds, 394 U.S. 310 (1969) (witness explained that he feared
death or bodily harm); United States v. Scandifia, 390 F.2d 244, 250-51 (2d Cir.
1968), vacated on other grounds, 394 U.S. 310 (1969) (witness testified that his fam-
ily had received threatening phone calls); Pattison v. Standard Oil Co. of Ohio, 375
F.2d 643 (6th Cir. 1967) (prejudicial error to deny witness the opportunity to ex-
plain); West v. Greyhound Corp., 254 F.2d 541 (5th Cir. 1958) (witness may admit
and explain prior statement); Affronti v. United States, 145 F.2d 3 (8th Cir. 1944)
(other portions of prior statement admissible to meet for~ of impeachment).
100. See United States v. Wright, 489 F.2d 1181, 1187 (D.C. Cir. 1973) ("[b]e-
fore introducing extrinsic proof of a witness' prior inconsistent statement, the witness
must be asked whether he or she made the statement and must be given an opportu-
nity to explain it"); United States v. Hayutin, 398 F.2d 944, 953 (2d Cir.), cert. de-
nied, 393 U.S. 961 (1963).
101. See St. Clair v. Eastern Air Lines, Inc., 279 F.2d 119 (2d Cir. 1960).
102. 445 F.2d 54 (7th Cir. 1971).
103. 445 F.2d at 74. The court in Bohle, however, condemned the practice of
requiring that counsel reveal to the witness and opposing counsel the specific im-
peaching information, since it gives the witness time to consider his _answer to the
foundation question and thereby eliminates any reaction of surprise. Referring to the
trial court's decision to allow confrontation of the witness with his prior statement
out of the presence of the jury, the Seventh Circuit said:
Such a practice would appear to have a strong tendency to undermine the func-
tion of confronting the witness with the question in the first place. The loss
to the jury of the witness' initial and inlmediate response is accompanied by the
loss of one potentially significant aspect of the credibility determination. In the
usual case, we can see no point in thus weakening the right to an effective cross-
1600 Michigan Law Review [Vol. 75: 1565
added the phrase "at that time" to rule 613(a) following "the statements need not
be shown or its contents disclosed to him," in order to make it clear that the state-
ment may have to be shown to the witness at some time in order to allow him to
explain or deny it. The amendment also sought to emphasize that Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure 26{b){3), allowing a person to obtain a copy of his own statement,
was not repealed, though its operation may be temporarily suspended. Advisory
Committee Note to Proposed Rule 613, 56 F.R.D. 183, 278 (1972).
117. See 3 WEINSTEIN, supra note 10, ,r 613(01].
118. Professor Alex Brooks, chief draftsman of the New Jersey Rules of Evi-
dence, was primarily responsible for the amendment. The phrase was proposed in
the Report of American College of Trial Lawyers, Committee To Study Proposed
Rules of Evidence 49 (1970), cited in 3 WEINSTEIN, supra note 7, ,r 613(02] at 613-
7.
119. Requiring disclosure at the time of the examination may represent a change
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1603
traffic light facing the defendant's truck was red. Defense counsel
has in his arsenal two prior inconsistent statements. The first is an
oral statement by the witness made to police officer Smith. The
second is a signed statement given to John Brown, an insurance in-
vestigator. Assume further that in both statements the witness is
alleged to have asserted that he did not see the color of the traffic
light at the time of the accident, having arrived at the scene about
twenty seconds after hearing but not observing the impact. In cross-
examination of the witness, defense counsel may employ (either
alone or in combination) questions falling within any one of the fol-
lowing categories:
(1) Cross-examination confronting the witness with other ver-
sions of the facts. For example, "Isn't it true you did not actually
see the car and truck collide?," or "Didn't you in fact arrive at the
accident twenty seconds after impact?"
(2) Cross-examination inquiring about the assurance, frank-
ness, and recollection of the witness. For example, "Have you
always maintained that position?," or "Did you ever tell a contrary
story to anyone else?"
(3) Cross-examination going beyond mere inquiry about assur-
ance of position and clearly implying the existence of a contrary
statement. For example, "Didn't you talk to John Brown about the
accident?"
(4) Cross-examination confronting the witness with the sub-
stance or exact content of a prior statement, after laying a partial
but not full prior foundation regarding time, place, and persons
present. For example, "Didn't you tell Officer Smith a completely
contrary story?," or "Haven't you said on another occasion that you
arrived at the scene of the accident twenty seconds after hearing the
collision?" 120
in practice with respect to statements not already in possession of the opposing party.
If impeachment is by a document or deposition transcript already in the opponent's
possession, it is customary, if not required, to specify the document or give the date,
page, and line of the deposition transcript being used to impeach. With respect to
written documents not previously discovered, past practice might have required dis-
closure only at the conclusion of cross-examination. Cf. People v. Mulliken, 41 111.
App. 2d 282, 190 N.E.2d 502 ( 1963) (no right of opposing counsel to inspect tran-
script of oral statements used to lay foundation for impeachment).
On the introduction of the remainder of writings that in fairness ought to be con-
sidered together, see FED. R. Evm. 106; Westinghouse Elec. Corp. v. Wray Equip.
Corp., 286 F.2d 491 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, 366 U.S. 929 (1961).
120. Prior to the adoption of rule 613, objections to questions in categories (2),
(3), and (4) were often made and sustained on the_ ground of lack of adequate
foundation, referring to the fact that all elements of the traditional common-law
foundation were not included. When such objections were overruled, the ruling us-
1604 Michigan Law Review [Vol. 75: 1565
ually was in response to the examining counsel's assertion that the question asked
was preliminary to the laying of the traditional foundation. Even prior to rule 613,
however, such questions should have been allowed as relevant to the recollection,
frankness, and honesty of the witness. See People v. Jones, 160 Cal. 358, 364-65,
117 P. 17 6, 179 ( 1911). Of course, category (3) and ( 4) questions should be ex-
cluded as "unwarranted insinuations" if the cross-examiner does not intend to proceed
with impeachment. However, category (1) and (2) questions are proper even if they
are not used preliminary to the laying of a foundation for impeachment. In practice,
counsel most often refrain from asking a,question in categories (1) or (2), since the
witness will almost always simply repeat his direct testimony or deny ever making an
inconsistent statement. However, if counsel desires to ask such a question without
intending to pursue the line of questioning unless he receives a "yes" answer, the ques-
tion on balance seems unobjectionable, since neither the question nor the answer seems
to create an unwarranted risk of insinuation of a prior inconsistent statement.
Dean Hale summarizes the correct position-which was accepted by rule 613-
on the allowability of such questions:
[I]n cross-examining a witness concerning an alleged prior oral contradictory
statement, it is not necessary to call his attention to the time, place and parties
present. It is only with reference to, and as a basis for the later calling of an
impeaching witness, that the requirement as to time, _Place, et cetera figures.
Pursuant to one of the basic purposes of cross-examination, it seems entirely ap-
propriate in testing the assurance, and indeed the frankness and honesty, of the
witness with reference to his testimony to challenge him with the other possible
prior versions of the facts in conflict therewith without requiring the cross-ex-
aminer at that point to reveal all the bases of contradiction that he may have
in reserve. There may well be something very revealing in the contrasts that
appear in answering a first inquiry and a more pointed subsequent inquiry. ,This
contrast becomes particularly vivid if the witness at first denies any prior con-
flicting statement and then is confronted with a letter over his own signature in
which the conflicting statement appears. Weaknesses of memory, if not dishon-
esty, stand out in bold relief.
Hale, supra note 86, at 149. See 4 J. WIGMORE, supra note 10, § ,1260.
121. Rule 613(a) provides that "on request the same [prior inconsistent state-
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1605
123. While rule 611 provides the court with discretion to control the order of wit-
ness examination, it is unlikely that an explanation will be permitted prior to rebuttal.
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1607
129. As set forth in the Advisory Committee Note, the "interests of justice"
would require ignoring the foundation requirements if the witness after testifyi!lg be-
came unavailable by the time the prior statement was discovered or if counsel wishes
to examine several collusive witnesses before disclosing a joint prior inconsistent
statement. 56 F.R.D. at 278-79,
1610 Michigan Law Review [Vol. 75:1565
A. The Dilemma
A detailed discussion of the historical development of the
voucher rule and its rejection in the provisions of the Federal Rules
130. Id.
131. ·Professor Cleary, who served as the reporter to the committee, suggested
that acceptance of rule 613(b) was less than whole-hearted even prior to the amend-
ment to rule 801(d)(l)(A):
In my view, the existing practice would continue in general to be followed
under the rule. It is convenient and effective to raise the matter on cross-exam-
ination, and doing so would avoid problems that might ultimately arise if wit-
nesses become unavailable before the end of the trial. The rule ought, however,
to remain as drawn, leaving the practical approach to the good sense of the prac•
titioner.
Hearings Before the Subcomm. on Criminal Justice on Proposed Rules of Evidence,
93d Cong., 1st Sess., ser. 2, at 74-75 Supp. (1973).
The requirement that a proper foundation be laid prior to the introduction of ex-
trinsic evidence unless the interests of justice require otherwise is currently applied
with respect to establishing bias. United States v. Di Napoli, 557 F.2d 962 (2d Cir.
1977).
132. Cf. MINN. R. Evm. 613(b) (requiring that witness be given opportunity to
explain before prior inconsistent statement offered into evidence).
Several cases decided since the adoption of the Federal Rules but involving trials
that took place before the l\ules became effective have cited rule 613(b) as consis-
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1611
tent with their holdings. In Strudl v. American Family Mut. Ins. Co., 536 F.2d 242
(8th Cir. 1976), a diversity case involving a wrongful death action, the court, though
apparently applying Nebraska evidence law, quoted rule 613 (b) and part of the Ad-
visory Committee Note to demonstrate that no foundation was required before the
introduction of evidence of a witness' prior inconsistent statement. Since the im-
peaching party recalled his opponent's witness and questioned her concerning her
prior statement, the court concluded that the witness had "full opportunity to explain
or deny her alleged inconsistent statements." 536 F.2d at 244-45.
In United States v. Inslow, 530 F.2d 257, 264 (4th Cir. 1975), another pre-Rules
case, the impeachment procedure employed was found to satisfy the traditional rule
rejected in Strudl, though the court in a footnote stated that "[o]ur holding is consist-
ent with Federal Rules of Evidence, Rule 613(b)." 530 F.2d at 264 n.4. The hold-
ing was in fact consistent with the rule only to the extent that a foundation satisfying
the traditional rule would automatically satisfy rule 613(b).
Several recent cases have applied rule 613(b) after its effective date. Two cases
from the Eighth Circuit found the rule satisfied when the witness was given an oppor-
tunity to explain or deny his prior statements before extrinsic evidence was intro-
duced in accord with prior federal practice. United States v. Rogers, 549 F.2d 490
(8th Cir. 1976); Osborne v. United States, 542 F.2d 1015 (8th Cir. 1976). The
only post-adoption case to deal with rule 613 (b) at any length is United States v.
Barrett, 539 F.2d 244 (1st Cir. 1976), in which the defendant was charged with inter-
state transportation and sale of stolen postage stamps. The government's witness,
one Adams, had testified that the defendant had admitted his involvement in the
crime shortly after his arrest. Defense counsel then called two witnesses who testi-
fied that Adams had told them that it was a shame that the defendant had been ar-
rested because he knew the defendant was innocent. The trial judge excluded this
testimony, but the appellate court reversed, rejecting the government's argument that
a proper foundation had not been laid. The court noted that rule 613(b) "relaxed
the traditional foundation rule," and thus the rule required only that the witness be
afforded at some time an opportunity to explain or deny and that the opposing party
be given a chance to interrogate the witness further. 539 F.2d at 254-55. After
quoting extensively from the commentary of the reporter of the Federal Rules, the
court stated:
The foregoing indicates that while good practice still calls for the laying of a
foundation, one is not absolutely required. It would have been desirable for de-
fense counsel to have asked Adams on cross-examination if he had made the pur-
ported statement to Delaney. And where this was not done, if Adams had later
become unavailable to explain or deny, the court might properly in its discretion
have refused to receive the testimony in question. Here, however, the court dis-
missed the evidence out of hand and made no inquiry into Adams' availability.
On the present record, we have no basis for assuming that he was not available,
or even that judicial economy and convenience would have justified the court in
ruling as it did. We hold, therefore, that it was error to exclude the testimony.
539 F.2d at 255-56. Given the court's suggestion that as a matter of "good practice"
the foundation should generally precede the impeaching evidence, it would seem that,
under Barrett, if a party seeks to introduce impeaching statements the trial judge
should assure himself that the witness to be impeached is available for recall. If he
is not available or, as Barrett suggests, if recall would result in significant delay, the
court should, in its discretion, exclude the evidence.
It is, of course, still too early to draw authoritative conclusions concerning the
effect of rule 613 on the procedure for impeachment with prior inconsistent
statements. It does appear, however, that the courts may encourage counsel to follow
the traditional federal foundation rule of giving the witness a chance to deny or
explain his prior statement before introducing extrinsic evidence by excluding such
evidence when the witness under attack is no longer available or the recall procedure
would foster undue delay. See FED. R. Evm. 6ll(a) & 403; note '122 supra.
The final sentence of rule 613 (b) provides specifically that its provisions do not
apply to admissions, as defined in rule 801(d)(2). Although the Advisory Commit-
tee Note makes no mention of the final sentence, the apparent intention of the com-
1612 Michigan Law Review [Vol. 75:1565
mittee was to eliminate even the slightest possibility that the provisions would be con•
strued as applicable to admissions. In this respect, rule 613(b) conforms to the vast
majority of decisions under the common law. 4 J. WIGMORB, supra note 10, § 1051.
All things considered, it is unclear what motivated the inclusion of the provision
regarding admissions in the rule itself rather than in the Advisory Committee Note.
Based upon the resulting language of the rule, one could argue that statements other-
wise admissible substantively either as a hearsay exception pursuant to rule 803 or
as not hearsay pursuant to the provisions of rule 801 (other than either 801 ( d )( 1)
(A) or 80l(d)·(2)) are subject to the requirements of rule 613(b) if in fact they
are inconsistent with in-court testimony of the witness. This contention is without
merit. Rule 613(b) is intended to apply only to those prior inconsistent statements
substantively admissible solely by reason of rule 80l(d)(l)(A) or admissible for im-
peachment purposes only pursuant to rule 607. Thus, rule 613(b) is inapplicable to
statements substantively admissible without reference to the fact that the statement
also happens to be inconsistent with the in-court testimony of the witness.
133. See Graham, supra note 44.
134. See, e.g., Krulewitch v. United States, 336 U.S. 440, 453 (1949) (Jackson,
J., concurring); United States v. De Sisto, 329 F.2d 929, 933 (2d Cir.), cert. denied,
377 U.S. 979 (1964); McCORMICK:, supra note 10, § 59; Morgan, supra note 10, at
193 (calling the practice a "pious fraud").
135. Graham, supra note 44, at 979-80.
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1613
all prior inconsistent statements would be substantively admissible,
rejects the voucher rule in the following language:
Who May Impeach
The credibility of a witness may be attacked by any party, includ-
ing the party calling him. 136
As previously stated, Congress eventually amended rule 801(d)
(l)(A) to limit substantive admissibility of prior inconsistent state-
ments to those statements originally made in testimonial form.
There was, however, no corresponding amendment to rule 607 to
bring it back into conformity with this prior federal practice, and thus
no express limitation presently exists on the calling party's ability to
place in evidence a witness' prior inconsistent statement. 187 Al-
prise under the new rule remained a prerequisite to a party's impeachment of its own
witness.
Another case controlled by the new rules in which the court focused upon the
element of surprise, though not expressly holding it to be required under rule 607, is
United States v. Garcia, 530 F.2d 650 (6th Cir. 1976). In Garcia, a government
witness who had allegedly made prior statements inculpating the defendant denied in
his courtroom testimony any knowledge of the defendant's guilt. Over defense objec-
tions that the government was impeaching its own witness, the government was per-
mitted to introduce extrinsic evidence of the alleged prior inconsistent statements. In
upholding that impeachment as proper, the Sixth Circuit, although not purporting to
interpret rule 607, emphasized the government's surprise, noting that up until its wit-
ness' appearance at trial the government believed his testimony would be consistent
with his alleged prior statements.
Three other recent cases applying rule 607 tend to rebut any inference from Mor-
lang, Rogers, and Garcia that courts will interpret the rule as retaining the surprise
and affirmative damage requirements of prior federal practice. In United States v.
Carter, No. 75-2216 (4th Cir. March 13, 1976), an unreported decision noted at 532
F.2d 752, the government called to the stand the defendant's brother, who denied his
own involvement in the robbery attempt with which the defendant was charged. Sub-
sequently the government impeached the witness with evidence of a prior inconsistent
statement and by drawing from him an admission that he had pleaded guilty to state
charges that he was an accessory after the fact to the robbery attempt. Although
it is unclear whether the government was surprised by the testimony of the defend-
ant's brother, the Fourth Circuit, in holding the impeachment proper, suggested that
the question was irrelevant. The court stated first that ''Federal Rule of Evidence
607 provides that the party who calls a witness may impeach his testimony," and then
noted that "United States v. Morlang, - F.2d -, No. 74-2071 (4th Cir. Dec. 30,
1975), held that in the absence of surprise a party may not impeach his own witness,
but that case is inapposite here, for it was not decided under the Federal Rules of
Evidence."
United States v. Alvarez, 548 F.2d 542 (5th Cir. 1977), provides an even clearer
statement that rule 607 will not be read to place limitations on a party's ability to
impeach its own witness. See text at notes 139-40 infra. Accord, United States v.
Palacios, 556 F.2d 1359, 1363 (5th Cir. 1977) ("[u]nder Rule 607 the government's
impeachment of [the witness] by her prior inconsistent statement was proper without
a showing of surprise").
138. See notes 21-23 & 134 supra and accompanying text.
139. 548 F.2d 542 (5th Cir. 1977).
August 1977] Employing Inconsistent Statements 1615
C. The Proposal
Rule 607 should be amended to state:
The credibility of a witness may be attacked by any party, except
that the credibility of a witness may be attacked by the party calling
the witness by means of a prior inconsistent statement only upon a
showing of surprise and affirmative damage. The foregoing excep-
tion does not apply to impeachment by means of a prior inc0nsis-
tent statement admitted pursuant to Rule 80l(d)(l)(A), 80l(d)
(2), or 803.
Clarification is in order about how proposed rule 607 applies to
several common situations. The requirement of surprise may be in-
appropriate in criminal cases where impeachment is by the criminal
defendant: it could impede the defendant's right to confront the wit-
ness, to present a defense, and to produce witnesses on his own
behalf. 148 Moreover, whether the prerequisite of surprise may con-
stitutionally be held applicable to the criminal defendant is still
unclear; resolution of this issue awaits development upon a case-by-
case basis. 149 It should also be noted that the· requirements of sur-
prise and affirmative damage apply not only to the calling party but
also to all parties similarly situated. Thus, a coplaintiff or codefend-
ant similarly situated \\'.ith respect to that aspect of the witness' testi-
mony sought to be impeached would be subject to the same restric-
tions. Rather than include this gloss in the rule itself, it is suggested
that rules 611(a)(l) and 403 presently provide ample authority for
the court to prohibit such attempted impeachment.
Of course, impeachment of a party's own witness through a show-
ing of bias, interest, prejudice, lack of opportunity to observe, or
faulty recollection would still be permissible under proposed rule
607. With respect to impeachment by acts of misconduct (rule
608(b)) and prior convictions (rule 609), surprise and affirmative
damage should generally be required. 150 However, considering that
rules 403 151 and 611(a) as well as rules 608(b) and 609 provide
ample authority for imposition of those prerequisites, it seems unne-
cessary to include this limitation in the language of rule 607. More-
over, the absence of such restrictive language will permit a calling
party to impeach his own witness by use of prior conviction under
circumstances where the prerequisites of surprise and damage seem
inappropriate, such as where the prosecutor wishes to divulge upon
direct examination that his witness, a prior codefendant, had pled
guilty to a particular offense arising out of the circumstances for
which the defendant is now being tried. 152 Although one could
tiorari in Maness v. Wainwright, 512 F.2d 88 (5th Cir. 1975), c~rt. gra11ted, 429
U.S. 893 (1976), in which one issue was whether the trial court's refusal to allow the
criminal defendant to impeach his own witness with prior inconsistent statements vio-
lated the defendant's constitutional right to a fair trial, but the Court then dismissed
certiorari as improvidently granted. 430 U.S. 550 (1977). See also Chambers v.
Mississippi, 410 U.S. 284 (1973), discussed i11 Graham, supra note 44, at 941-46,
984-86.
150. See Graham, supra note 44, at 982-91.
151. In the congressional hearings concerning rule 609, Judge Friendly commented
upon the relation of rule 403 to specific provisions of the Federal Rules of Evidence:
You have the problem: Does [Rule 403] apply when there is a specific rule
on the subject? This just says relevant evidence may be excluded if it has this
effect. But then somebody is going to argue, this other rule dealt very specific-
ally with the question and rule 403 is out. I don't know what the answer would
be. It is just another illustration that this code, far from settling problems, cre-
ates a great many of them.
Heari11gs on Proposed Rules of Evidence Before the Special Subcomm. on Reform
of Federal Criminal Laws of the House Comm. on the Judiciary, 93d Cong., 1st Sess.,
ser. 2, at 252 (1973).
152. Although it is proper for the state to elicit on direct testimony the fact that
its witness has pleaded guilty to a charge arising from the same event for which the
defendant is on trial, whether the prosecution should be permitted to itself bring out
other convictions of the witness seems best handled on a case-by-case basis. Relevant
considerations would be the same as those underlying imposition of the surprise and
affirmative damage requirements. See United States v. Chamley, 376 F.2d 57 (7th
August 19771 Employing Inconsistent Statements 1619