- 01 Introduction
- 02 Biology of DNA
- 03 Practical Issues Specific to DNA Evidence
- 04 Introduction to the Forensic DNA Laboratory
- 05 Assuring Quality in DNA Testing
- 06 Understanding a Forensic DNA Lab Report
- 07 Statistics and Population Genetics
- 08 Mitochondrial DNA & Y-STR Analysis
- 09 Forensic DNA Databases
- 10 Collection of DNA Evidence from Suspects and Arrestees
- 11 Pretrial DNA Evidence Issues
- 12 Victim Issues
- 13 Trial Presentation
- 14 Postconviction DNA Cases
- 15 Emerging Trends
Principles of Forensic DNA
for Officers of the Court
for Officers of the Court
Module 13 :: Trial Presentation
Topic 2 :: Making Information Comprehensible to Jurors
Expert Qualifications
The first step to ensure that jurors understand and accept DNA evidence is to qualify the expert in the applicable field. The party presenting the evidence should demonstrate that the expert has appropriate scientific credentials and is objective.
If the opposing party offers to stipulate to the qualifications of the expert, the presenting party should still have the expert briefly summarize his or her background for the jury as permitted by the court.
Click here to view a video of an expert providing her background.
