Who decides whether a witness is credible?

• A. Judge
• B. Prosecutor
• C. Jury
• D. Defense attorney

Answer: (C)

In a typical jury trial, the jury is the fact-finder responsible for deciding whether a witness is credible. After listening to testimony, watching the witness’s demeanor, and considering any inconsistencies or impeaching evidence, the jurors determine how believable the witness is and how much weight to give their testimony. The judge’s job is to enforce the rules of evidence, rule on admissibility, and provide legal instructions on how to weigh credibility, not to decide credibility themselves in the ordinary case. The prosecutor and defense present evidence and argue about credibility, but they don’t make the final determination; their aim is to persuade the jury. If the case were heard without a jury (a bench trial), the judge would make the credibility call.