What happens to a cross-examination of a defendant if the conviction for a crime happened over ten years ago?

In legal proceedings, if a defendant has a conviction that occurred over ten years ago, cross-examination about that conviction is generally prohibited. This rule stems from the principle that older convictions may be less relevant to a person's current character or credibility. The legal system aims to avoid undue prejudice against a defendant that could arise from the introduction of outdated or less relevant information.

A conviction from over a decade ago is typically viewed as too far in the past to accurately reflect a defendant's character or trustworthiness at the time of the current trial. As a result, the court would limit the scope of cross-examination to ensure that the defendant receives a fair trial. This approach supports the integrity of the judicial process by focusing on present actions and credibility rather than potentially misleading historical events.