Expert Witness Blog

Practical guidance for expert witnesses — testimony, report writing, depositions, fees and building a successful practice.

October 7, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Iowa

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses are outlined in Iowa’s Civil Jury Instructions, Rule 100.12. IOWA CIVIL JURY INSTR. 100.12 (2004). This rule explains to the jury that experts are individuals who have special education and experience and are allowed to testify to their opinions of the case at hand. Id. The jury is instructed to consider expert testimony the same

October 6, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Arkansas

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses are outlined in Arkansas’s Model Civil Jury Instructions, Rule 107. Ark. Model Jury Instr. Civil 107 (2016). This rule instructs the jury that experts are individuals who have special education or expertise related to the subject of their testimony. Id. Additionally, the rule instructs that expert witnesses are permitted to testify as to their opinion

October 5, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Connecticut

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses are outlined in Connecticut’s Criminal Jury Instructions, § 3.13. CONN. CRIMINAL JURY INSTR. § 3.13 (2016). This rule instructs the jury that testimony from expert witnesses is not binding on the jury, and the jury is not required to accept said testimony. Id. Additionally, when the jury is considering how much weight to give an

October 4, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Alabama

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses in Alabama are outlined in Alabama Pattern Jury Instructions, Civil rule 15.06. ALA. PATTERN JURY INSTR. 15.06 (2016). This rule instructs the jury to consider the expert’s testimony in light of all other evidence presented, as the expert testimony is to aid the jury in understanding difficult portions of the facts. Id. Further, the rule

October 3, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Missouri

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses in Missouri are not outlined in Missouri’s jury instructions. Instead, case law provides a basis for how the jury should be instructed regarding expert witnesses. The jury should be instructed that it is not bound to the testimony of any or all experts, and the jury should determine what weight to give each expert’s testimony

October 2, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Minnesota

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses in Minnesota are outlined in Minnesota’s Jury Instruction Guides, Civil rule 12.30. MINN. PRACTICE JURY INSTR. GUIDES CIVIL RULE 12.30 (2017). This rule explains to the jury that experts are permitted to testify to their opinions on the matter at hand because of their expertise. Id. The rule instructs the jury to evaluate an expert’s

October 1, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Maryland

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses in Maryland are outlined in Maryland’s Civil Pattern Jury Instructions, Rule 1:4. MD. CIVIL PATTERN JURY INSTR. 1:4 (2017). This rule instructs the jury that when evaluating all evidence presented, it should “give expert testimony the weight and value” the jury feels it should be given. Id. Additionally, the jury can choose to reject an

September 30, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Indiana

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses in Indiana are outlined in Indiana’s Model Civil Jury Instructions, Rule 307. IND. MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTR. 307 (2016). These rules instruct the jury that expert witnesses are permitted to testify to opinions relating to the case at hand based on the expert’s “knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education.” Id. Additionally, the jury is given

September 29, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Colorado

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses in Colorado are outlined in Colorado’s Jury Instructions, Rule 3:15. Colo. Jury Instr., Civil Rule 3:15 (2017). This rules explains that expert witnesses are qualified to be experts because of their “education, training, or experience.” Id. The jury is told to evaluate expert testimony the same way it evaluates other witnesses. Id. This includes determining

September 28, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Michigan

Jury instructions in Michigan are outlined in Michigan’s Model Civil Jury Instructions, Rule 4.01. MICH. MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTR. 4.01 (1993). This rule applies to all witnesses, including experts. Id. The rule instructs the jury that it has the authority to determine what witnesses to believe and how much weight to afford each expert witness. Id. When determining what witness(es)