Broyles v. Commonwealth
Kentucky Court of Appeals
267 S.W.2d 73 (1954)
At Broyles's (defendant's) murder trial, defense witnesses testified to his quiet and peaceful character; on cross-examination, the prosecutor asked whether the witnesses knew Broyles had prior convictions for drunk driving, reckless driving, and disorderly conduct, and the judge instructed the jury to consider that information only as it bore on the witnesses' credibility, not as evidence Broyles committed murder. Broyles was convicted and appealed, arguing the cross-examination was improper.
Whether witnesses testifying to a criminal defendant's good character traits may be cross-examined about the defendant's prior misconduct only if that misconduct bears on the specific traits the witness described.