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Court Procedures / Evidence / Service

Explanation of an expert witness

Generally, an expert witness is a person with specialized knowledge about a particular subject. In some cases, an expert witness may provide his/her opinion in the form of testimony. Expert witnesses are often used in cases that involve complex or technical issues. In general, either party can “offer” an expert witness, but the role of an expert witness is to provide his/her own opinion based on his/her expertise in the subject (not necessarily the opinion of the party who offered the witness). Before a person is allowed to testify as an expert witness, in general, a judge must determine whether that person qualifies as an expert on the subject which s/he is testifying. Some criteria that a judge may consider include a witness’ education, certifications, publications, and years of experience in the field. Given the requirements for an expert witness, hiring one can generally be expensive. You may want to discuss with a lawyer from your state whether hiring an expert witness is a good option for you.

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