During a civil trial, a witness testifies to a fact that is critical to the plaintiff's claim. The defense submits a motion requesting that the judge determine whether the witness’s testimony is credible. How should the court proceed?
The judge evaluates the witness's credibility as part of deciding whether the testimony is admissible under the rules of evidence.
The judge denies the defense’s motion because the credibility of the witness is a matter for the jury to evaluate.
The judge considers whether additional instructions for the jury regarding the testimony's reliability are necessary.
The judge excludes the witness's testimony if the defense provides sufficient reasoning to question its reliability.
Determining the credibility of a witness is a factual matter that lies squarely within the jury's role as the fact-finder. The judge does not evaluate the believability of testimony; instead, the judge ensures that the testimony complies with rules of evidence. Without specific legal grounds, the judge cannot exclude testimony solely because its credibility is questioned. The other options incorrectly suggest that the judge evaluates or excludes testimony based on credibility, or imply a need for actions that exceed the judge’s proper function.
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