What is an Expert Witness?

An expert witness is a witness who, by posessing special knowledge, skill, training, or experience, is qualified to provide testimony in matters that exceed the common knowledge of ordinary people.  

Expert witnesses may perform a variety of tasks for a litigator in the course of a case.  Depending on the needs of the litigator, and the details of the case, the expert witness may help the litigation team evaluate the case, review documents, or write an expert report.  Expert witnesses also help juries better understand complex topics by sharing their opinions about relevant facts and evidence in their testimony. 

Expert witnesses are considerably more common in courts today than just a few decades ago.  Widespread computer systems & the explosion of e-discovery have led to a great deal more evidence in recent cases.  In addition, many attorneys believe that the popularity of forensic television programs like CSI are raising juror expectations, leading them to demand more forensic evidence in criminal and other trials.

Criminal cases now frequently involve forensic scientists and forensic psychologists, while experts with nearly any specialty may be called in a civil case.