Certified Fraud Examiner Practice 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

In a legal context, impeachment specifically refers to the process of challenging or discrediting a witness's credibility or reliability. This can involve presenting evidence that contradicts the witness's testimony, demonstrating potential biases or motives, or showing prior inconsistent statements made by the witness.

The goal of impeachment is to make the court or jury question the witness's trustworthiness, which can significantly affect the weight given to their testimony. This can be crucial in legal proceedings where witness credibility is central to the case's outcome, enhancing the party’s argument by casting doubt on the reliability of opposing testimonies.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of impeachment in a courtroom setting. Setting aside a jury's verdict pertains to procedural actions after a trial, questioning the admissibility of evidence relates to whether certain evidence can be used in court, and initiating a criminal investigation focuses on the process of beginning inquiries into a potential crime, which are distinct concepts from witness credibility assessment.