What are the two types of impeachment?

Impeachment in the context of evidence law refers to the process of challenging the credibility of a witness. The two types of impeachment are intrinsic and extrinsic.

Intrinsic impeachment involves questioning a witness about statements they have made or inconsistencies in their testimony during direct examination. This type focuses on the witness's behavior and the testimony they provide, allowing the opposing party to highlight discrepancies or weaknesses directly through the witness's answers.

Extrinsic impeachment, on the other hand, involves introducing outside evidence or other witnesses to challenge the credibility of the original witness. This could mean presenting evidence that shows a witness has a motive to lie, has been convicted of a crime that affects their credibility, or showing they have made prior inconsistent statements that are relevant to their testimony.

The distinction between these two types is critical for understanding how credibility can be challenged in a courtroom. Intrinsic allows for immediate confrontation on inconsistencies, while extrinsic provides a broader means to bolster an argument against the reliability of the witness. This dual approach to impeachment is key to evaluating witness credibility in trials.