Intro to the Federal Rules of Evidence - 7

2. Three Major Factors

a. The kind of case, civil or criminal

b. The purpose for which evidence of character is offered
i) to prove a person character which itself is the ultimate issue in the case: civil/criminal
ii) to serve as circumstantial evidence of how a person probably acted: criminal
iii) to impeach the credibility of a witness: civil/criminal

c. The method to be used to prove character
i) general reputation
ii) opinion
iii) specific acts:
1)character in issue,
2)character on x-x of a witness who has already given reputation or opinion testimony.