What Does it Mean to Be an Expert Witness?
Contrary to what you see in Hollywood movies, there are very few “open and shut” cases in the U.S. legal system. Most matters that come before courts are one person’s word against another’s, and juries composed of everyday citizens are left to decide what seems to be the truth. You’ve probably heard the term “expert witness,” but you may not be aware of what it means. An expert witness is called in to evaluate and explain information that jurors may not be able to easily grasp.
Professional Experience and Expertise
Let’s say a law suit involves bank fraud. The prosecution may hire a financial expert witness who is a respected professional with a banking or accounting background. That person would be compensated for their time and expected to provide a legal affidavit and sworn testimony.
Objectivity
The financial expert witness in the example above was hired by the prosecution. That … Read more