1. CHAP. 9 : OPINION EVIDENCE
Prof. JANICKE
2018

2. OPINIONS ARE GENERALLY INADMISSIBLE
RULE 602 REQUIRES ACTUAL “KNOWLEDGE” FOR MOST TYPES OF EVIDENCE
KNOWLEDGE MEANS PHYSICAL PERCEPTIONS ONLY!
BUT: IN A PRACTICAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WE NEED SOME ROOM FOR OPINIONS
2018
Chap Opinion Evidence

3. Chap. 9 -- Opinion Evidence
MEANING OF OPINIONS
ABOUT 98% OF WHAT WE THINK WE “KNOW” ARE ACTUALLY OPINIONS (e.g., OUR OWN AGE; ID OF U.S. PRESIDENT OR TEXAS GOVERNOR)
OPINIONS CONSIST OF:
FACTS LEARNED FROM OTHERS WHO MAY ACTUALLY KNOW THEM
CONCLUSIONS WE HAVE DRAWN FROM OUR OWN OBSERVATIONS
2018
Chap Opinion Evidence

4. THE OPINION OBJECTION :
GENERAL RULE: OPINIONS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN EVIDENCE
“OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR; IT CALLS FOR AN OPINION”
IF JUDGE AGREES, THIS SETS THE STAGE FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS:
SOME KINDS OF OPINIONS ARE ADMISSIBLE
2018
Chap Opinion Evidence

5. OPINIONS OF NON-EXPERTS RULE 701
ALLOWED IF:
BASED ON A PHYSICAL PERCEPTION BY THE WITNESS, AND
RATIONALLY BASED, AND
HELPFUL TO THE TRIER OF FACT
[NOTE: YOUR OPINIONS ABOUT YOUR AGE OR FAMOUS OFFICE-HOLDERS WILL NOT QUALIFY!]
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6. Chap. 9 -- Opinion Evidence
“HELPFUL” MEANS THERE’S NO OTHER FEASIBLE WAY TO CONVEY THE WITNESS’S OBSERVATION
IF TESTIFYING TO A FEW FACTS CAN CONVEY THE STORY TO THE JURY JUST AS WELL, THE OPINION IS DISALLOWED
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Chap Opinion Evidence

7. EXAMPLES OF ADMISSIBLE LAY OPINIONS
HE WAS DRUNK (or SOBER)
HE WAS UPSET
SHE WAS NERVOUS
SHE WAS ANGRY
ALL REQUIRE FOUNDATION OF A PHYSICAL PERCEPTION
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Chap Opinion Evidence

8. FURTHER EXAMPLES OF LAY OPINIONS TRADITIONALLY ALLOWED
INSANITY or SANITY
HANDWRITING
BOTH REQUIRE FOUNDATION OF PHYSICAL PERCEPTION
2018
Chap Opinion Evidence

9. Chap. 9 -- Opinion Evidence
PROBLEMS/CASES 9A 9B
2018
Chap Opinion Evidence

10. EXPERT OPINIONS: 1ST-HAND PERCEPTION IS NOT REQUIRED (RULE 702)
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERIENCE IN SOME AREA
SCIENTIFIC, BUSINESS, ARTS, CAR REPAIR, ETC., ETC.
CRIME DETECTION? CONTROVERSIAL
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Chap Opinion Evidence

11. EXPERT’S METHODOLOGY MUST BE RELIABLE
CHECKED INITIALLY BY THE JUDGE, AT A HEARING BEFORE TRIAL
IF JUDGE FINDS METHODOLOGY WAS RELIABLE, OPINION IS ADMITTED FOR JURY EVALUATION
JURY MAY STILL FIND METHODOLOGY WAS UNRELIABLE AND GIVE OPINION NO WEIGHT
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Chap Opinion Evidence

12. VOIR DIRE PRIOR TO GETTING OPINION IS ALMOST UNIVERSAL
JUDGE HAS ALREADY DECIDED GOOD METHODOLOGY, BUT:
NEED TO CUT THE EXPERT DOWN TO SIZE BEFORE THE JURY
DIDN’T CONSIDER X
DIDN’T CONSIDER Y
CONCEDE FALLIBILITY
WITNESS’S MISTAKES MAY HACE OCCURRED IN CARRYING OUT EVEN A GOOD METHODOLOGY
2018
Chap Opinion Evidence

13. Chap. 9 -- Opinion Evidence
PROBLEMS/CASES 9C
Daubert
DuPont [see posted materials] 9D 9E
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Chap Opinion Evidence

14. OPINION ON AN ULTIMATE FACT [R. 704]
THE OLD CLICHÉ: “INVADING THE PROVINCE OF THE JURY”
WAS NONSENSE
NOW GENERALLY ALLOWED, IF OTHERWISE IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULES
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Chap Opinion Evidence

15. Chap. 9 -- Opinion Evidence
EXCEPTION (FEDERAL RULE): STATE OF MIND OF CRIMINAL D.
THE OLD CLICHÉ SURVIVES HERE
USUALLY SANITY IS INVOLVED
EXPERT MUST STAY ONE-STEP-BACK
TEXAS RULE: DOES NOT HAVE THE EXCEPTION;
EXPERT CAN ALWAYS GO TO THE BOTTOM LINE, IF METHODOLOGY IS GOOD
Fed. test: Unable to appreciate (i) nature/quality, or (ii) wrongfulness
Texas test: Knew act was wrong
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Chap Opinion Evidence

16. COURT-APPOINTED EXPERT WITNESS (RULE 706)
GOOD IN THEORY
LITIGATORS CRINGE!
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Chap Opinion Evidence

17. ACCEPTING A STIPULATION OF EXPERTISE OF YOUR EXPERT WITNESS?
A STIPULATION OF CREDENTIALS IS OFTEN VOLUNTEERED BY ADVERSARY
IS SELDOM ACCEPTED
WOULD REMOVE DRAMA
NOW YOU HAVE NO FEAR OF ANY OBJECTION TO CREDENTIALS
2018
Chap Opinion Evidence

18. Chap. 9 -- Opinion Evidence
PROBLEMS/CASES
Film Clip from My Cousin Vinny on expert witness testimony
2018
Chap Opinion Evidence