North Dakota Jury Instruction Impeachmenten— - Inconsistent Statemen— - Defendant Testifies With Felony Conviction is an important legal term that relates to the credibility of a defendant's testimony during a trial. This jury instruction is used when a defendant takes the stand and testifies, but has a prior felony conviction that may undermine their credibility or believability. In the event that a defendant testifies with a felony conviction, the prosecution can introduce evidence or cross-examine the defendant about any prior inconsistent statements they made before or during the trial. This impeachment technique aims to challenge the defendant's credibility by highlighting any inconsistencies between their current testimony and their past statements surrounding the alleged crime. Different types of North Dakota Jury Instruction Impeachmenten— - Inconsistent Statemen— - Defendant Testifies With Felony Conviction may include: 1. Standard Instruction: This instruction explains the general principle of impeaching a defendant's testimony when they have a prior felony conviction. It defines the relevance of prior inconsistent statements and how they can impact the jury's evaluation of the defendant's credibility. 2. Limited Application Instruction: In certain situations where the prior inconsistent statements are not directly related to the current case or if the prior conviction is not substantially connected to the defendant's trustworthiness, the court may provide a limited application instruction. This instruction limits the jury's consideration of the defendant's felony conviction for impeachment purposes. 3. Voluntarily Disclosed Conviction Instruction: If the defendant voluntarily discloses their felony conviction during direct examination, the court may provide an instruction to direct the jury's attention to this fact. This instruction seeks to minimize the potential impact of impeachment by acknowledging the defendant's disclosure and focusing jurors' attention on other evidence presented. 4. Rehabilitation Instruction: In cases where the defendant's credibility has been called into question due to a prior inconsistent statement, the court may provide a rehabilitation instruction to help restore the defendant's credibility. This instruction may direct the jury to consider factors such as the defendant's demeanor, consistency of other testimony, or corroborating evidence while evaluating the defendant's overall credibility. It is important to note that the specific jury instructions provided may vary depending on the facts and circumstances of each case. Attorneys and judges involved in a trial will work together to determine the applicable North Dakota Jury Instruction Impeachmenten— - Inconsistent Statemen— - Defendant Testifies With Felony Conviction, ensuring that the jury receives accurate guidance while evaluating a defendant's testimony.