The Ethics of Expert Witnessing A Special Issue of Ethics and Behavior

Scientific information is often of substantial importance to the courts in the resolution of disputes. Scientific evidence can be used to assist the decision maker to decide the ultimate issue in the case, even though the science is not itself the ultimate issue. Because many courtroom observers think that experts who purport to present scientific information have special powers of persuasion, they fear that experts often shape the ultimate decision in the case, even when their testimony addresses only mediate issues. And indeed, in many civil cases, the key to reaching the jury is the presentation of expert testimony on such issues. This special edition focuses on the use of psychologists and other mental health professionals as expert witnesses to provide important insights on the ethics surrounding their testimony.