Jury Instructions on Expert Testimony

Abstract Jury instructions are a fundamental part of the justice system, providing jurors with guidance on the legal concepts necessary to resolving a case. Although expert testimony is frequently an important portion of the evidence in a case, pattern jury instructions rarely provide more than minimal guidance on the issue of expert testimony. Few jurisdictions instruct jurors on the factors to be considered in properly determining the value of the expert testimony, with the majority of jurisdictions emphasizing that expert testimony should be evaluated in the same manner as lay witness testimony. Consistent with existing professional standards and legal commentary, judges and lawyers should develop more informative instructions that provide jurors with specific factors that affect the reliability and value of the expert opinion testimony.