Expert witnesses in criminal trials are in high demand mainly because the amount of criminal court filings has increased. The United States Courts report that in 2018, filings for criminal defendants rose by 8% in U.S. federal district courts, reaching a total of 81,553. According to the Illinois Courts’ Annual Report, prosecutors filed over 280,000 criminal cases in the state of Illinois.
If you are facing a criminal charge in Illinois, it is essential to consult with a skilled Cook County criminal defense attorney. Time is of the essence. Contact Glasgow & Olsson today to schedule your initial consultation.
What is an Expert Witness?
Illinois courts require attorneys to abide by a set of rules for submitting evidence in a criminal court case. An attorney cannot state his opinion about whether or not his client was insane at the time of the alleged criminal act. However, criminal defense attorneys can call expert witnesses to testify on relevant issues. An Illinois court would permit an expert psychiatrist to answer questions regarding the defendant’s mental state using his or her relevant expert skill and advice. Attorneys often call the expert witnesses in the following areas:
- Health care
- Pharmaceuticals
- Consumer products
- Psychological
- Weapon, gun, and ballistics experts
Why are Expert Witnesses in Demand?
At the end of a criminal trial, an Illinois judge will ask the jury to decide whether the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The members of the jury may not understand the important aspects of the crime. An Expert Witness would explain these aspects to the jury.
For example, if the defendant used a particular type of gun, his defense attorney may call a gun expert to clarify certain aspects of the mechanics of the gun. Expert witnesses help the members of the jury connect the dots between all of the different individual pieces of evidence.
Expert witnesses should be personable and skilled in their trade. Persuasive expert witnesses speak in a way that jury members, who are often lay people, can easily understand. Expert witnesses can explain difficult scientific principles, help jurors understand the context of the situation and provide necessary background information.
In criminal trials, expert witnesses can help demonstrate the innocence of the defendant, or at least raise significant questions as to the defendant’s guilt. For example, an expert in DNA processing could testify that the Illinois law enforcement officers did not properly gather DNA or that the DNA testing facilities did not properly run the test that resulted in a DNA match. Similarly, a DNA expert could testify that the DNA test results do not prove that the defendant is guilty.
If You are Facing a Criminal Charge, We can Help
At Glasgow & Olsson, our experienced criminal defense attorneys know how to effectively use expert witness testimony. If you are facing a criminal charge in Illinois, we can help. Contact our Chicagoland area law firm today to schedule your initial consultation.
(image courtesy of David Veksler)