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3.
Testimony
A criminalist’s work culminates in a court of law. Obviously, not all cases
proceed to court, but the anticipation of court testimony is what sets forensic
science apart from any other applied science. It is also probably the greatest
deterrent to joining the profession and the downfall of many an examiner.
Although no amount of external wisdom can fully prepare one for the rigors
of the stand, it’s helpful to define the general process, the expectations of the
various players, and, in particular, to review the role of the scientist in the
proceedings.
In the previous section, we covered the preparation that must take place
before you set foot in a courtroom. The most successful and efficient testi-
mony results from a solid foundation laid by both you and your attorney
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Communicating Your Results — Where Science Meets the Law
287
client, so that as little as possible is seat-of-the-pants guesswork once you are
on the stand. This is not to say you shouldn’t anticipate the possibility of
having to think on the fly. You are rarely in control in the courtroom. You
are an invited guest and you must abide by the rules and conventions of your
host, the court. However, this is balanced by the desire of the scientist to ensure
that his opinion is communicated as clearly and completely as possible.
As invited guests of the court, forensic scientists must understand how
their role is viewed by the legal profession. Although each country, state, and
local jurisdiction has its own set of rules governing the acceptance and con-
duct of expert witnesses, generally, they are quite similar. In the United States,
many are predicated to at least some extent on the 
 
Federal Rules of Evidence
,*
Article VII of which is reproduced in Figure 11.6. Although the specifics vary,
a main point is always that the expert witness, as opposed to the lay witness,
is allowed to give opinion testimony. Further, expert witnesses are allowed
to explain their answers.