Rule 607. Who May Impeach

• Library: South Carolina Evidence Annotated (SCBar) (2019 Ed.)

Rule 607. Who May Impeach

The credibility of a witness may be attacked by any party, including the party calling the witness.

Note:

This rule is identical to the federal rule. However, it is contrary to the former law in this State that a party must vouch for its own witness and may not impeach its witness unless the witness is declared hostile upon a showing of actual surprise and harm, or unless the party is required to call someone, such as a subscribing witness to a deed or will, as a witness. State v. Anderson, 304 S.C. 551, 406 S.E.2d 152 (1991); Hicks v. Coleman, 240 S.C. 227, 125 S.E.2d 473 (1962); White v. Southern Oil Stores, Inc., 198 S.C. 173, 17 S.E.2d 150 (1941).

Annotations Rule 607

Collateral Impeachment

"When a witness denies an act involving a matter collateral to the case in chief, the inquiring party is not permitted to introduce contradictory evidence to impeach the witness." State v....