PSYO 3224 Lecture 5: Expert Witnesses
8 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
Two types fact and expert: fact witness encouraged not to give opinion, expert witness give opinions. Client is usually the lawyer, sometimes the judge: up until the 20th cent. The judge would bring in the expert witness. They play the role of the advocate or scientist: judges do not like it when expert witnesses take on the advocate role. Reasons of insanity: competence to stand trial. Capability to defend themselves to stand trial: sentencing. Expert to give rule in sentencing to prevent further offenses: eye witness ident, civil commitments, psych damage in civil cases, trademark litigation, class action suits, guardianship and conservatorship. Kinds of testimony: conduit educator. Translate the science in a way which is useful to the court: hired gun. Someone who will say what their hired to say: philosopher ruler. Will not say whatever their hired to say. Use findings that support their sides: attorney will typically find a conduit educator who has a skewed way of perspective.
