Presenting a Forensic Expert

How to go from this…

To this…

Basic Steps of Presenting Forensic Testimony

1. Have your witness introduce himself or herself

2. Have the witness tell the trier of fact why the witness is worth listening to on the subject

3. Have the witness tell the trier of fact what you want to convey◦A. At this point we’re back to direct examination skills…

Introducing the witnessSmall point, but an important one

Experts/technical witnesses are given a lot of weight by jurors and judges… so….

Why is the witness worthy of attention?

It’s more thanjust theCurriculum

Vitae or Resume:

Not all forensic witnesses will have a normal CVCrime Scene Investigator Firearms Expert

Use your witness to convey the necessary forensic information…

First, you have to understand…

COMMUNICATIONThis is probably how this witness felt while we prepared…

I think… triers of fact are interested in this type of evidence because it is different

Big Challenge 1: Avoiding Scientific Terms and JargonDiagnostic of… Remiges, Rectrices, Tarsus, Tarsi

Big Challenge 2: Repetitive Information

Pitfalls for Forensic Evidence… Your witness is asking the trier of fact to take a leap…

Chain of Custody

Bias Issues

Pride

Thank You!