NCJ Number
86896
Journal
American Journal of Family Therapy Volume: 8 Issue: 4 Dated: (Winter 1980) Pages: 43-51
Date Published
1980
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Family therapists as expert witnesses in court need to understand the various legal behaviors they will face and the strategic responses necessary to improve their skills as expert witnesses.
Abstract
This paper gives tips on how family therapist/witnesses can handle resistance from the cross-examiner. Generally, they should remain unruffled and answer all questions firmly and clearly, using humor only when appropriate. The expert witness who has been given pretrial coaching in legal procedures, assumes an appropriate expert witness role, and is a persuasive communicator on the stand is most likely to have a favorable and effective impact on the judicial process. The paper gives advice on handling the 'country lawyer' approach, the polite questioner who amplifies minor inconsistencies in testimony, and the cross-examiner who uses clever phrasing designed to make the witness stumble. Nineteen references are supplied.