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HomeEvidence CodeDiv. 6Ch. 6Art. 2§ 789 Witness Religious Belief Evidence

§ 789 Witness Religious Belief Evidence

Evidence Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 789 Witness Religious Belief Evidence

Key Takeaways

  • •You can't use someone's religion (or lack of it) to say they're lying in court.
  • •It doesn't matter if they believe in God or not—their words should be judged on their own.
  • •This rule keeps trials fair by focusing on facts, not personal beliefs.

Example

A person is on trial for stealing a bike. The lawyer tries to say the witness is lying because they don’t go to church.

The judge won’t allow this because the witness’s religion has nothing to do with whether they saw the bike stolen or not.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 789 Witness Religious Belief Evidence

Evidence of his religious belief or lack thereof is inadmissible to attack or support the credibility of a witness. (Enacted by Stats. 1965, Ch. 299.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

religious beliefcredibility of a witness

Related Statutes

  • § 786 Witness Character Evidence Limits
  • § 787 Witness Character Evidence Limits
  • § 788 Witness Credibility Felony Convictions
  • § 780 Witness Credibility Factors
  • § 785 Witness Credibility Challenges

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Evidence Code. Section 789.
View Official Source