Next Online Courtroom Testimony for Expert Witnesses Course Announced: June 1-3, 2026
The online Courtroom Testimony for Expert Witnesses course has continually been a great success! We have had participants from across Canada and the US, the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, and New Zealand. The ability to learn from the instructor and from each other in this dynamic and informative course is unparalleled. The online...
Next Online Courtroom Testimony for Expert Witnesses Course Announced: TBD
The online Courtroom Testimony for Expert Witnesses course has continually been a great success! We have had participants from across Canada and the US, the UK, Norway, Australia, and New Zealand. The ability to learn from the instructor and from each other in this dynamic and informative course is unparalleled. The online format has proven...
Troubling Trend in Expert Image Comparison Evidence in Canada?
A recent Canadian case has highlighted an apparent issue that is affecting how some courts are assessing the probative value and admissibility of expert image comparison evidence. This article reviews this recent case in the context of previous rulings and recommends how image comparison evidence should be presented to the court by experts...
Cognitive Bias and Forensic Experts: Preserving Independence and Learning to Say No
Cognitive bias among forensic experts is a significant issue that can lead to unsupportable conclusions and miscarriages of justice when undetected. It may also result in the exclusion of evidence at trial that one of the parties was relying upon as a method of proof. Such was the case in a June 2023...
When Are You Considered an “Expert Witness”?
As you accumulate course work, conferences, training, and experience during your professional career, it is natural to ask whether and when you can be considered an expert and be tendered as an expert witness in the courtroom. These are important questions as they define a significant progression in your qualifications and career. The...
Reverse Projection Photogrammetry: When is Measurement Uncertainty an Issue of Admissibility?
A home security video surveillance system captured relevant events that transpired outside the home before and after two murders were committed nearby. Of note, it recorded images of a person walking and carrying what appeared to be a shotgun. The facial features and race of the person of interest were not discernible due...
Who is Qualified to Express an Opinion on Image Comparison?
A fundamental question in the forensic process of image comparison is what qualifies a proposed expert to express such an opinion for the court’s consideration. Various contenders ranging from people with no qualifications whatsoever, to wedding videographers, production video specialists, experts from the non-imaging world, and certified forensic video analysts have appeared in...
State Supreme Court Rules on Admissibility of Expert Motion Tracking Evidence
In dynamic video-recorded scenes where several people move around within the frame and from camera to camera it can be difficult to accurately track the movement of individuals. This makes it challenging for the trier of fact to understand what is happening generally and to differentiate the actions attributed to each individual. Motion...
Canadian Court Restricts Evidence of Forensic Video Analyst in Murder Trial
In preparation for a Canadian homicide prosecution, a forensic video analyst performed several technical and analytical processes on video images that captured relevant events. The defence objected to most of the work performed by the analyst and in a pre-trial motion during which the analyst gave extensive testimony, the trial judge ruled on...
The Pedagogical Expert Witness: Teaching Complex Science in the Courtroom
The following article, applicable to experts in all areas of expertise, was written by me in conjunction with my Courtroom Testimony for Expert Witnesses course and will soon be published in the Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal. It will be available on an Open Access basis and once published, it will be...