Edgington v. United States
United States Supreme Court
164 U.S. 361 (1896)
Relevant factsFree
Edgington (defendant) was charged with giving a false deposition, a crime involving dishonesty, and at trial offered competent evidence of his good character, which the judge twice excluded, once suggesting it might be proper only after Edgington testified himself and the second time without explanation. The jury convicted him, and he appealed, arguing the exclusion of his character evidence was reversible error.
IssueFree
Whether, in cases involving dishonesty, relevant evidence of the defendant's good character is sufficient to create a reasonable doubt of the defendant's guilt.