"The judge may consider the witness's specialized (scientific, technical or other) opinion about evidence or about facts before the court within the expert's area of expertise."
Understanding the role of forensic chemists as expert witnesses in legal proceedings and the principles of presenting scientific evidence in court.
Forensic Science: The application of science to the criminal and civil justice system.
Expert Witness: A person who is an authority in a particular field and who is called to provide testimony in court to help judge or jury to understand a complex scientific issue.
Rules of Evidence: Legal standards that must be followed in order for evidence to be admissible in court.
Daubert Standard: A legal standard used to determine the admissibility of expert testimony in court.
Frye Standard: A legal standard used to determine the admissibility of scientific evidence in court.
Direct examination: The examination of a witness by the party who called the witness to the stand.
Cross-examination: The examination of a witness by the opposing party.
Discovery: The process by which parties in a lawsuit obtain information from each other.
Deposition: A legal proceeding in which a witness is sworn to tell the truth and is questioned under oath by attorneys.
Scientific method: A systematic approach to conducting scientific experiments.
Controls: An experimental group whose conditions are purposely controlled and standardized.
Quality assurance: A set of procedures used to ensure that a product or service meets a certain standard of quality.
Chain of custody: The chronological documentation of the handling, storage, transfer, and analysis of evidence.
Accreditation: Official recognition that an organization meets certain standards.
Analytical methods: Techniques used to detect and quantify the presence of specific compounds.
Toxicology: The study of the harmful effects of chemicals on living organisms.
Pharmacology: The study of the effects of drugs on living organisms.
Trace evidence: Small, often microscopic, materials left at a crime scene that provide evidence.
Forensic chemistry: The application of chemistry to the investigation of crime.
Expert report: A written report prepared by an expert witness for submission to a court or other legal authority.
Substance Identification: Expert witness testimony focused on determining the chemical makeup and identity of substances found at the crime scene such as drugs, poisons, and chemical residues.
Trace Evidence Analysis: Expert witness testimony focused on the analysis of small pieces of evidence such as fibers, hair, and fingerprints, to link them to a particular individual or crime scene.
Arson and Explosives Investigations: Expert witness testimony focused on the analysis of fire and explosion investigations to determine the cause, origin, and mechanisms that led to the event.
Toxicology: Expert witness testimony focused on the detection and analysis of foreign substances, such as drugs or poisons, in biological samples such as blood, urine, and tissue.
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis: Expert witness testimony focused on the interpretation of bloodstain patterns at the crime scene or on evidence to assist in the reconstruction of the events leading to the crime.
Firearms and Toolmark Analysis: Expert witness testimony focused on the analysis of firearms or toolmark evidence to identify specific weapons or tools used in the commission of a crime.
Forensic Anthropology: Expert witness testimony focused on the identification of human remains, and other facets of human remains.
"...person whose opinion by virtue of education, training, certification, skills or experience, is accepted by the judge as an expert."
"Particularly in common law countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States..."
"Referred to as an 'expert opinion'."
"Expert witnesses may also deliver 'expert evidence' within the area of their expertise."
"Their testimony may be rebutted by testimony from other experts or by other evidence or facts."
"...specialized (scientific, technical or other) opinion about evidence or about facts before the court within the expert's area of expertise."
"...education, training, certification, skills or experience, is accepted by the judge as an expert."
"To consider the witness's specialized opinion about evidence or facts before the court within the expert's area of expertise."
"The judge...accepts [the witness] as an expert."
"Referred to as 'expert evidence'."
"Yes, within the expert's area of expertise..."
"Their testimony may be rebutted by testimony from other experts or by other evidence or facts."
"...person whose opinion...is accepted by the judge as an expert."
"Common law countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States..."
"The judge may accept their opinion by virtue of education, training, certification, skills or experience."
"To provide an opinion about evidence or facts before the court within their area of expertise."
"Their testimony may be rebutted by testimony from other experts..."
"Their opinion is specialized, often scientific or technical..."
"The judge may consider the witness's...opinion to be referred to as an 'expert opinion'."