ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a thorough review of the legal frameworks and procedures governing the application of cultural expertise across diverse legal systems worldwide. Through a comparative lens, it explores how cultural expertise is incorporated within various jurisdictions, distinguishing between common law, civil law, mixed, plural, and religious law systems. By organizing legal systems into these categories, the chapter facilitates a comparative analysis of how cultural expertise is applied in each context, considering factors such as expert appointment, evidence standards, and procedural roles. The discussion reveals that although legal systems may differ in structure, they share similarities in integrating cultural expertise—particularly the need for impartial, qualified experts who can contextualize complex cultural issues within legal cases. The chapter also highlights the hybrid nature of many legal systems, where elements of both adversarial and inquisitorial approaches coexist, creating unique procedural dynamics for the role of cultural expertise. Ultimately, the chapter underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between legal professionals and cultural experts while maintaining the objectivity and neutrality required within legal proceedings.
