Forensic Science and the Legal System

Forensic Science: Forensic Science and the Legal System

Introduction to Forensic Science and the Legal System

District attorneys routinely call upon medical examiners to give expert testimony in a trial, especially concerning the findings of an autopsy and the results of laboratory tests. Expert testimony is that given by a specialist who has been recognized by the court as having expert knowledge about evidence in the case. Such testimony is governed by different rules than the testimony of ordinary witnesses in a trial. Ordinary testimony is restricted to statements concerning what the witness actually saw or heard. An ordinary witness is prohibited from stating opinions about the case and from quoting statements made by other people. In contrast, an expert witness is allowed to express an opinion about the validity of the evidence in a case and may quote the statements of other experts in support of an opinion.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Forensic Science and the Legal System in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Forensic Science and the Legal System