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Law 101: Legal Guide for the Forensic Expert

Expert's Answers to Questions

If an attorney asks the expert to answer a question with either "yes" or "no" and the expert feels it is not possible to answer the question accurately without providing more information, the expert may ask the court for permission to further explain the answer.

If the questioning attorney objects, or the court directs the expert to answer "yes" or "no" without allowing explanation, the expert should answer the question as directed. An attentive retaining attorney will recognize the expert's attempt to clarify his answer. There may still be an opportunity to provide the longer answer on re-direct by the retaining attorney.

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