What is Georgia's stance on character evidence to prove conduct on a particular occasion?

In Georgia, character evidence is generally prohibited when it comes to proving conduct on a particular occasion. This principle is consistent with the rules governing evidence, which aim to prevent irrelevant information from influencing the jury. The rationale behind this prohibition is that a person's character or past behavior may not necessarily correlate with their actions on a specific occasion, and thus could unfairly prejudice the jury against the defendant.

However, there are exceptions to this rule. For instance, character evidence may be admissible in cases where a character trait is directly at issue or relevant to the claims being made, such as in defamation cases or when character is an essential element of the charge. Additionally, character evidence may be allowed to support the credibility of a witness, or in instances involving habit or routine practice.

This nuanced approach reflects a balance between the relevance of character to specific legal questions and the risks of unfair prejudice that can arise from introducing such evidence. The correct understanding of Georgia's stance on the admissibility of character evidence emphasizes the general prohibition with outlined exceptions, making the selected answer accurate.