Science, Technology, or the Examiner Experience: What Influences Jurors’ Judgments About Forensic Science Testimony?

New research raises concerns about the potential undue influence of expert witness background and experience on jurors’ judgments. The paper found a “strong and consistent effect” for witness background and experience on evidence strength judgments, no effect for the level of sophistication of the forensic technology at issue, and a limited and inconsistent effect for forensic science methods that have been scientifically tested. Read more.