State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Thomas L. Scott (a/K/A James Longenberger, and Christopher Tureaud)…

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that the trial court erred in admitting evidence of the defendant's mother's prior false statements to police as impeachment because such evidence is not probative of bias and is barred by N.J.R.E. 403 and 608; the error was not harmless, so the Appellate Division's judgment was reversed and the case remanded for a new trial. The Court also noted concurring and dissenting opinions discussing whether Rule 608 should be revised.