An expert witness is an individual that is an expert in their particular field and they are called to testify at a trial. There is something in the content of the trial that suggests this individual could be helpful in establishing the guilt or the innocence of the defendant. Dr. Gabbay's services deal with his knowledge of the Muslim world, especially on asylum cases. Lawyers that hire an expert witness should ask certain questions to qualify that the expert is someone who they need and to ensure they can testify effectively.
Some of these questions include:
1. The expert should be asked to clarify their profession, which is the field they are an expert in. They should also be asked to show their credentials if the lawyer is not already familiar with them.
2. They should also be asked to clarify how long they have been in their profession. Longevity can help quite a bit. Then again, there are some individuals just leaving college who have fresher knowledge on the field that they are in.
3. The expert witness in question should be asked if they have any personal involvement with the case. It is important that they don't have some sort of relationship with the defendant. If they do, they will not be called to be an expert witness. It is important that they are in an unbiased situation so that they may present an unbiased opinion on the case. They are expected to give their expert opinion and that is it.
4. The witness should be asked if they have received any information on the case before the interview. This is because being given any advanced information can cause bias. That is why jurors tend to be asked if they have any information regarding the case before the interview. That information can cause an opinion that could compromise the case.
5. The expert may be asked by the opposition’s lawyer if they have participated in cases such as this before. Experience always helps when trying to find someone who will be comfortable enough to give their opinion on the witness stand. They should also be aware of how to give the necessary details when asked.
- They should also be asked if they have an issue being under oath. Some individuals do have an issue with being under oath due to specific beliefs that they may have. Most do not have an issue with it, though.
- There may be questions specific to their specialization that may be asked to ensure that the potential expert witness does know what they are talking about. It is important to have questions ready that prevents them from pretending that they are the expert.
It is very important to ensure that the potential expert witness is someone who can make some sort of impact on the case. Expert Shaul Gabbay is an excellent and qualified witness for cases and testimonies that are about the Muslim culture and the Middle East. Whether the expert is working behind the scenes as a non-testifying witness or they are a testifying witness (to know the difference between a testifying and non-testifying witness click here), they have to know what they are talking about. They can't just pretend that they know what they are talking about just because they want to be involved in the case in some way. Expert Shaul Gabbay has helped many people in their trials and is the director of the Institute for the Study of Israel in the Middle East (ISIME) at the University of Denver.
To find out more about what and expert witness does click here >>
