The Expert Witness Survival Manual

About the Book

This practical book helps the expert witness new to court to prepare psychologically as well as professionally for courtroom testimony. It provides a comprehensive overview of the legal process, trial procedures, and the role of the expert in the adversarial system of state and federal courts. Chapters focus on the current status of expert testimony, law from ancient to modern times, the adversary system, typical lawyer attitudes and approaches, expert witness practice details including virtues of the ideal witness, and coping strategies and tactics for courtroom testimony. An original glossary of over 1000 legal terms and a quick reference guide to the most commonly used testimony tactics round out this useful text.

About the Author

Frank MacHovec, Ph.D., is a psychologist who has testified as an expert witness in civil and criminal court cases and administrative, investigative and legislative hearings in the United States and Canada since 1975. He regularly speaks to professional associations on matters of ethics and law.

Doctor MacHovec also conducts special training programs and workshops to help prepare expert witnesses to testify. His courtroom coping techniques have been published in Communique, the national newsletter of the National Association of School Psychologists, and articles on risk management aspects of professional practice appear regularly in scientific journals.

Doctor MacHovec is a member of many professional organizations including the American College of Forensic Psychology, Society for Personality Assessment, American Board of Medical Psychotherapists, and the American Association for Marital and Family Therapy. In 1982, Division 18 of the American Psychological Association (Psychologists in Public Service) awarded him a National Certificate of Recognition for his field work on standards for hypnosis.