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Defendant is tried in federal court for aggravated assault after a late-night fight outside a music venue. Defendant claims that the alleged victim, Patron, rushed him with a broken bottle and that Defendant only pushed Patron away. The government claims Defendant started the fight and punched Patron repeatedly after Patron fell.
Defendant calls Neighbor, who has known Defendant for 12 years. Neighbor will testify that Defendant has a reputation in the neighborhood for being peaceful and that, in Neighbor's opinion, Defendant is not a violent person. Defendant also wants Neighbor to testify that Defendant once walked away from a parking-lot argument without hitting anyone. Defendant separately calls Bartender, who will testify that Patron has a reputation among venue staff for starting fights. The prosecutor says that if either witness testifies, the government will call a coworker to say that Defendant is known at work as aggressive, and the prosecutor also wants to ask Neighbor on cross-examination whether Neighbor knew Defendant broke another man's jaw two years ago.
How should the court rule on the proposed character evidence? Discuss the admissibility of Defendant's peacefulness evidence, Patron's aggressive-character evidence, the prosecution's rebuttal evidence, and the proposed cross-examination.