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The expert should treat opposing counsel courteously, no matter how abusive or aggressive the attorney might become. The expert should never engage in a one-upmanship discourse with opposing counsel.
To point out that opposing counsel does not understand the testimony or the scientific field results in the expert appearing arrogant and adversarial. Such a demeanor is certain to antagonize. Expertise should be evident without being overstated.
Understanding and asserting your rights as an expert witness requires constant attention to detail. Maintaining a professional, polite and calm demeanor will produce better results during overly aggressive examinations. Know your rights. Be ready to assert your rights but do not "shoot from the hip"; assess the situation and the consequences of your actions.
Understanding your rights, and knowing how to preserve and protect those rights, helps create a better mindset with which to develop your strategy, apply the appropriate techniques, and avoid repercussions when confronting abusive, improper or inappropriate conduct.
Additional Online Courses
- What Every First Responding Officer Should Know About DNA Evidence
- Collecting DNA Evidence at Property Crime Scenes
- DNA – A Prosecutor’s Practice Notebook
- Crime Scene and DNA Basics
- Laboratory Safety Programs
- DNA Amplification
- Population Genetics and Statistics
- Non-STR DNA Markers: SNPs, Y-STRs, LCN and mtDNA
- Firearms Examiner Training
- Forensic DNA Education for Law Enforcement Decisionmakers
- What Every Investigator and Evidence Technician Should Know About DNA Evidence
- Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court
- Law 101: Legal Guide for the Forensic Expert
- Laboratory Orientation and Testing of Body Fluids and Tissues
- DNA Extraction and Quantitation
- STR Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Communication Skills, Report Writing, and Courtroom Testimony
- Español for Law Enforcement
- Amplified DNA Product Separation for Forensic Analysts