With the evidence of Randall Pruitt’s prior convictions in New Mexico, the prosecution must overcome several legal obstacles, such as the rules of evidence within the jurisdiction. Each jurisdiction would need its own set of rules and regulations for the evidence, which would need specific requirements on admitting the evidence into prior actions. Along with rule 609 in the federal rules of evidence, the rule would limit the admission of prior convictions to impeach a witness’s credibility. The due process clause of the Fourth Amendment prohibits the admission of evidence that would be obtained in violation of the individual's rights. I don’t think that eliminating these obstacles would give us a better service to the criminal justice system.
