Maintaining Composure and Credibility as an Expert Witness During Cross-Examination

Abstract

Attorneys are of ten passionately devoted to thenotion that truth will emerge only if they clearly state their position and challenge the opposition. This often leads attorneys to dispute and/or discredit expert witness' opinions that threaten their po si-tion. Tes tifying dur ing cross-ex am i nation can be a very in tense and anxiety-pro vokingexperiencefornovice, as well as seasoned mental health professionals with varying levels of experience in a courtroom. The pur pose of this ar ti cle is to offer sev eral brief rec om men-dations for maintaining composure and credibility during cross-examination when called to testify as a psychological expert witness. The recommendations are based upon information gathered from the professional literature, consultation with mental health pro fes sion als (e.g., psy chol o gists, and psy chi atrists) involved in the le gal arena, and the au thors'ob servations of court room drama. The recommendations address pre-trial preparations, verbal and non-ver bal be hav iors, as well as the con tent and style of the ex pert's testimony.

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