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DNA - A Prosecutor’s Practice Notebook Inventory

Contrasting the State's Expert to the Defense's Expert Witness

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Frequently, the defense will use a DNA expert witness who has strong academic credentials but little or no hands-on forensic analysis experience in a lab. When this happens, the prosecutor should emphasize the forensic experiences of the state's DNA analyst during direct examination. In cross-examining defense expert witnesses, the prosecutor should contrast the marked differences between the defense witness' background and the professional and practical experiences of the state's expert.

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