Expert Witness

Sometimes an expert witness is called in to testify at court. An expert witness also has a lot of qualifications they have to meet in order to be an expert witness at trial. They give their opinions on evidence and may have to deal with hypothetical questions. An expert witness also answers questions that are kind of controversial at trial. They are also sometimes entitled to give their opinions. Expert witnesses also testifies things that they seen, heard, smelled, and touched. They also apply their own principles and methods to evidence and sometimes questions in trails have to do with how they got their results. The fingerprint examiner is a very important expert witness and they have to prepare before they go to trial.

A fingerprint examiner's preparation should include creating or updating a written statement of qualifications which may be called a resume, a statement of qualification, or curriculum vitae (C.V). The C.V. should not be confused with a standard job resume. The curriculum vitae should contain information that relates the expert's qualifications to the specific area of expertise he is being called upon to testify. The curriculum vitae should be readily available to the prosecution and the defense. The expert's C.V. is subject to discovery by opposing council before the expert appears in court. The curriculum vitae should have some subject headings such as credentials, education, specialized training, board certifications, employment, experience, publications/honors/speeches, professional accomplishments, professional affiliations/memberships, areas of expertise, courtroom testimony experience, services available, fee information, geographical limitations, and percentage of plaintiff or defense experience.

An expert witness also has to be qualified by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education. An expert witness has to have some kind of scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge to assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or determine a fact in issue. An expert witness may end up having to testify their opinions if the testimony is based up sufficient facts or data, the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods, and the witness has applied the principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case. Experts may give their opinions on questions in controversy at a trial. To assist the jury in deciding such questions, the jury may consider the opinion with the reasons stated therefore, if any, by the expert who gives the opinion.

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