Verified Document

Expert Testimony Expert Scientific Witness Term Paper

Some of the most important tools in the arsenal of the fire investigator include the senses of smell, touch, and physical manipulation. Likewise, the process of logical deduction often provides the correct forensic analysis of the evidence. Under Frye, crucial expert witness testimony relating to the practiced synthesis of the totality of circumstances disclosed by meticulous investigation is often excluded from use at trial.

Certainly, Daubert provided additional flexibility of possible avenues capable of establishing foundational qualification of expert witnesses, but insufficiently to redress the problem.

Conclusion - Carmichael, Federal Rule 702, and Implications for Fire Investigation: The 1999 Carmichael case finally resolved the conflicting standards articulated under Frye and Daubert and their progeny since 1923 and 1993, respectively. In Carmichael, the Supreme Court specifically departed from the Frye standard and expanded the criteria introduced by Daubert to include non-scientific evidence as well as scientific evidence, suggesting that the Daubert court had never actually intended to restrict its ruling to the latter exclusively (Burnette 2008).

Carmichael emphasized the fundamental similarity of Daubert criteria to the purpose and effect of Federal Rule 702 (Burnette 2008) and recognized that certain fields of scientific and non-scientific expertise are demonstrably relevant and sufficiently reliable to satisfy the purpose of expert witness foundational qualification in principle. The impact of Carmichael on modern fire investigation expert witness testimony...

On one hand, practical cumulative field experience is no longer necessarily insufficient to qualify expert witnesses under the totality-of-circumstances approach authorized by the Court; on the other hand, the increased latitude that Carmichael affords to the fact finder places a profound burden on fire investigators to articulate the cumulative bases and the precise methodology of their conclusions (Burnette 2008).
In terms of the potential introduction of crucial testimony, the modern standard represents a tremendous improvement for fire investigators; at the same time, the expanded scope of criteria under the authority of the fact finder to qualify expert witnesses also magnifies the potential harm of poor preparation, methodology, and record retention. Ultimately, the post-Frye/Daubert evolution of the expert witness qualification process promotes better training of fire investigators as well as lessening the incidence of the exclusion of crucial and relevant evidence at trial.

Bibliography

Burnette, G.E. (2008) Fire Scene Investigation: The Daubert Challenge

Retrieved from the Interfire.org. website, at http://www.interfire.org/features/fsi_daubert_challenge.asp

Cleary, E.W. (2007) McCormick's Hornbook on Evidence, 6th Edition (Hornbook Series) St. Paul, MN: West Publishing.

Friedman, L.M. (2005) a History of American Law. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Schmalleger, F. (1997) Criminal Justice Today: An Introductory Text for the 21st Century. Princeton: Prentice Hall

Sources used in this document:
Bibliography

Burnette, G.E. (2008) Fire Scene Investigation: The Daubert Challenge

Retrieved from the Interfire.org. website, at http://www.interfire.org/features/fsi_daubert_challenge.asp

Cleary, E.W. (2007) McCormick's Hornbook on Evidence, 6th Edition (Hornbook Series) St. Paul, MN: West Publishing.

Friedman, L.M. (2005) a History of American Law. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Expert Witnesses Are Called Upon
Words: 894 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

[4] In connection with expert witnesses and evidence, the most significant has been the Daubert case of 1993. Prior to this case, federal and state court judges had only two standards on which to determine the admissibility of evidence. The first one was relevance and the other was known as Fyre standard according to which only scientific information, which was generally accepted by the community, would be admitted. Opponents of

Expert Witness and the Courts
Words: 1198 Length: 3 Document Type: Research Paper

legal issues faced by expert witnesses and the impact the Frye test has on scientific evidence proffered at trial. This essay also covers the decision that was reached by the courts concerning the fate of expert witness and expert testimony and some of the legal issue that affects the case. Generally, every case which involves technical or scientific issues, or professional standards, will always need expert witness as well as

Inherit the Wind the Play
Words: 725 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

The play "Inherit the Wind" changes the real-life script. In the real "Scopes Monkey Trial" Clarence Darrow defends John Scopes and William Jennings Bryan serves as the prosecutor. This was a clash of legal titans, if you will, because Bryan had run for president of the U.S. several times. Actually Bryan can be seen now as a brilliant buffoon, arguing that the Bible trumps science. Is the play sympathetic to the

Eyewitness Testimony, Etc. In a
Words: 3711 Length: 12 Document Type: Term Paper

41+). Loftus notes that science has found "post-event information" is integrated into what most people have actually experienced because, "when people experience some actual event -- say a crime or an accident -- they often later acquire new information about the event. This new information can contaminate the memory" (Loftus, 2002, March, p. 41+). In addition, many false memories are created, deliberately or by accident, in response to leading questioning

Investigative Conclusion and Testimony
Words: 2819 Length: 9 Document Type: Research Paper

Section I Provide a list of people you believe should be interviewed for this investigation and how they relate to the investigation. What information could they possibly supply? For this investigation, there will be need to interrogate a number of persons. In so doing, I would be concerned with two key aspects that relate to the investigation: work-related aspects and aspects not related to the workplace. With regard to work-related aspects, I

Crime Scene Evidence
Words: 1184 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

Crime Scene Evidence Laying the Foundation for Crime Scene Evidence In recent decades, significant advances in forensic technology and communications have revolutionized the art of collecting, sharing and using evidence to prosecute and convict accused criminals. These advances definitely make it easier for law enforcement (police and prosecutors) to put criminals away, but this not at the expense of the accused's constitutional rights to a fair trial. Therefore, courts have established different

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now