False Confession Expert Witness Testifies During Child Abuse Trial

Earlier this week a false confession expert witness took the stand in the trial of Wisconsin man accused of violently shaking his infant son and causing the boy’s death.  The expert testimony represents a growing trend of psychology experts applying their research and testimony to criminal courts across American jurisprudence. Wisconsin Man on Trial for […]

Delaware Pill Mill Doctor Convicted with Help from Expert Witness Testimony

Last week a Delaware physician was convicted on more than 100 counts of illegally prescribing narcotics and filing false insurance claims in a high profile pill mill criminal prosecution. Prosecutors presented evidence from a medical practices expert witness who told jurors that suspect bookkeeping and lack of records strongly suggested the defendant was guilty. Delaware […]

Man Accused of Killing Adrian Peterson’s Son Uses Medical Experts During Trial

Earlier this week a jury in South Dakota convicted the man accused of killing the son of National Football League Star Adrian Peterson of 2nd degree murder despite testimony by several defense experts that attempted to cast doubt on the cause of death.  Throughout the trial both prosecutors and defense attorneys presented several medical expert […]

Motion for New Trial Based on Art Valuation Experts

Luke Brugnara made the mistake of representing himself in a federal criminal trial. Brugnara was convicted of mail fraud, wire fraud, and a number of lesser charges. A lawyer would probably have hired an expert to testify for Brugnara during his trial. Expert testimony might have persuaded the jury that Brugnara was the victim of […]

Soil Scientists Testify in Botanical Gardens Controversy

A Connecticut judge was recently asked to decide whether a restraining order should be entered to halt work on a project that allegedly violated environmental laws. Expert testimony by soil scientists was the focus of a two day hearing in New London Superior Court. The Chelsea Gardens Controversy A nonprofit foundation plans to create an […]

Mother Convicted for Leaving Infant in a Hot Car uses Psychology Expert Witness

An El Paso woman was recently convicted of criminally negligent homicide for the 2013 death of her infant daughter who was left in a hot car for 8 hours.  Jurors issued the guilty verdict despite hearing testimony from a psychiatrist expert witness who explained that the defendant suffered from “forgotten baby syndrome” which was presented […]

New Funding for Experts in Sexual Assault Prosecutions

Many sexual assault crimes cannot be solved, and prosecutions cannot be commenced, without the help of experts. Some experts who testify as government witnesses in sexual assault cases work in state or municipal crime laboratories. Others work in private labs that provide services under contract with a state or municipal agency. One critical role that […]

Expert Witnesses Do Not Always Need a College Degree

Many experts have advanced degrees in specialized fields, but other experts gained their knowledge through experience. Rule 702 of the Federal Rules of Evidence permits expert testimony that will help the jury if the expert is qualified “by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education.” Most states follow a similar rule. Experience in the kitchen was […]

Medical Expert Witnesses Duel in Child Abuse Murder Trial

Expert witnesses in child injury and abuse disagreed with each other on the stand this week as both prosecutors and defense lawyers relied on medical experts in the murder trial of a Madison, Wisconsin man accused of killing his girlfriend’s 5-year-old son.  During the course of this week’s testimony, expert witnesses dueled on the nature […]

Pediatric Expert Witness Testifies in Texas Child Burn Trial

An expert in pediatric care testified this week in a trial of a 26-year-old Texas man charged with intentionally exposing his infant son to scalding hot water.  Prosecutors called the expert pediatrician to the stand to help prove that the child’s injuries were not accidental, but the result of an intentional abusive act. Texas Man […]