New York statute
N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law § 60.35 — Rules of evidence; impeachment of own witness by proof of prior contradictory statement
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 60: Rules of Evidence and Related Matters, New York Criminal Procedure Law.
Full text of N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law § 60.35
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
60.35 Rules of evidence; impeachment of own witness by proof of prior
contradictory statement.
1. When, upon examination by the party who called him, a witness in a
criminal proceeding gives testimony upon a material issue of the case
which tends to disprove the position of such party, such party may
introduce evidence that such witness has previously made either a
written statement signed by him or an oral statement under oath
contradictory to such testimony.
2. Evidence concerning a prior contradictory statement introduced
pursuant to subdivision one may be received only for the purpose of
impeaching the credibility of the witness with respect to his testimony
upon the subject, and does not constitute evidence in chief. Upon
receiving such evidence at a jury trial, the court must so instruct the
jury.
3. When a witness has made a prior signed or sworn statement
contradictory to his testimony in a criminal proceeding upon a material
issue of the case, but his testimony does not tend to disprove the
position of the party who called him and elicited such testimony,
evidence that the witness made such prior statement is not admissible,
and such party may not use such prior statement for the purpose of
refreshing the recollection of the witness in a manner that discloses
its contents to the trier of the facts.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.