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Expert Witness Testimony

This course prepares students to testify as expert witnesses by teaching them about expert testimony standards, challenges to admissibility, and how to testify under direct and cross-examination. Students will learn through lectures, activities and participating in a mock testimony exercise applying course materials.

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Sumaira Manzoor
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179 views

Expert Witness Testimony

This course prepares students to testify as expert witnesses by teaching them about expert testimony standards, challenges to admissibility, and how to testify under direct and cross-examination. Students will learn through lectures, activities and participating in a mock testimony exercise applying course materials.

Uploaded by

Sumaira Manzoor
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Capital University of Science and Technology

Islamabad Expressway, Kahuta Road, Zone-V, Islamabad


Phone: +92 51 111 555 666, Fax: 92 51 4486705
Email: [email protected], Website: http”//www.cust.edu.pk

PSY 5303: Psychological Reports and Expert


Course Title:
Witness Testimony

Pre-requisite(s):

Credit Hours 3

Course Description:

This course is designed to prepare students for courtroom testimony as expert


witnesses. Students will learn the role scientific evidence and expert witness
testimony play in criminal and civil cases in the court system as well as key court
rulings relating to expert testimony. Expert testimony and evidence admissibility
standards will be compared between the federal and state court systems, as well as
ethical considerations for expert testimony. Challenges to scientific testimony
admissibility will be discussed in depth, focusing on current court decisions that
affect the impact the admissibility, content, and format of scientific testimony. In
addition to testimony admissibility, the course will discuss the process of scientific
testimony. Students will be learn how witnesses are qualified for expert testimony
and how to testify under both direct examination and cross-examination situations.
At the end of the course, students will participate in a mock testimony exercise that
will require them to apply course material as they prepare and testify as an expert
witness in a mock criminal case.

Course Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this course, the students should be able to:

No Description

CLO:
Prepare for courtroom testimony and draft expert reports (A4).
1

CLO:
Understand role of the prosecutor, defense attorney, judge and jury (C2).
2
Capital University of Science and Technology
Islamabad Expressway, Kahuta Road, Zone-V, Islamabad
Phone: +92 51 111 555 666, Fax: 92 51 4486705
Email: [email protected], Website: http”//www.cust.edu.pk

Demonstrate strategies for effective direct examination such as essential


CLO:
communication skills needed when presenting evidence to juries and
3
judges and visual multimodal presentation of evidence (P2).

Course Contents:

Week Contents

1. Introduction
Course Goals,
Assessment, and Assignments
“Tour” of the mock courtroom (Online video)

2. Expert Witnesses & Scientific Evidence


Welcome
Module Scavenger Hunt
Reading Quiz
Class Lectures
Class Activity

3. Environments, Players & Preparation


The various environments where expert
testimony can be given (e.g., the differences
between a deposition, grand jury proceeding,
bench trial, and jury trial),
The role of players in each environment, and
pre-trial preparations

4. Federal Rules of Evidence: Opinions and


Expert Testimony
General acceptance (Frye) versus the Daubert
Standard
The admissibility process
Reading activity

5. Testimony Procedures & Practices


Procedures involved in direct and cross
Capital University of Science and Technology
Islamabad Expressway, Kahuta Road, Zone-V, Islamabad
Phone: +92 51 111 555 666, Fax: 92 51 4486705
Email: [email protected], Website: http”//www.cust.edu.pk

examination of experts;
Videos depicting testimony procedures
Mockup testimony practice activity

6. Testimony Procedures & Practices


Expectations of dress,
Demeanor and delivery when providing expert
testimony
Importance of ethical behavior when providing
expert testimony

7. Witness Transcripts: Part 1


Robin Lovett case
A psychological report

8. Witness Transcripts: Part 2


Robin Lovett case
A psychological report
Students will present examples of expert
witness testimony

9. Your Credibility in the Eyes of the Jury -


Qualifying questions and background
Testimony style
Direct examination and cross examination

10. Perceptions of Evidence Reliability and its


Importance in Decision-Making
Peripheral and central processing,

11. Perceptions of Evidence Reliability and its


Importance in Decision-Making
Heuristics
Story model of decision making and
deliberations

12. The Role of the Expert Witness


History of the expert witness and their
importance in the courtroom work group
Creating Visual Aids for Testimony
Capital University of Science and Technology
Islamabad Expressway, Kahuta Road, Zone-V, Islamabad
Phone: +92 51 111 555 666, Fax: 92 51 4486705
Email: [email protected], Website: http”//www.cust.edu.pk

13. Preparing for Court


Court going curriculum vitae,
Practical exercise on preparing CV for court

14. Preparing for Court


Organizing your case file, making charts and
demonstrative aids
Other countries vs Pakistan

15. Evaluations
Self-reflection and transcripts,
Attorney and jury feedback,
Peer evaluations
Other countries vs Pakistan

16. Forensic Evidence in Court


Conclusions and Summary
How to put the research to work for you

Text Book(s):
 Houck, M. M., Funk, C., & Feder, H. A. (2018). Successful expert testimony.
CRC Press.
 Shelton, H. D. (2010). Forensic Science in Court: Challenges in the Twenty
First Century. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Reference Book(s):
 Otto, R. K., DeMier, R., & Boccaccini, M. (2014). Forensic Reports and
Testimony: A Guide to Effective Communication for Psychologists and
Psychiatrists. Wiley.
 Kapardis, A. (2009). Psychology and Law: A Critical Introduction. Cambridge
University Press.

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