ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a review of admissibility rules for scientific evidence in court and these rules are quite distinct and have developed over the years as a result of case law, and differ per jurisdiction. It offers a summary of the literature on effective expert testimony, by focusing on substantive and stylistic aspects. The chapter includes an actual court transcript from a US criminal case, so that the reader can be acquainted with the structure and content of a typical piece of direct testimony and cross-examination. Courts hardly ever peruse the expert's CV before the trial hearing nor ask questions regarding their level of knowledge and experience before the actual expert testimony. This is quite contrary to US trial practice, as can be seen from the criminal trial transcript. The Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists outline other important ethical considerations in providing expert testimony.
