NCJ Number
159689
Journal
International Journal of Forensic Document Examiners Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (April-June 1995) Pages: 88-91
Date Published
1995
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The ethical responsibilities of forensic document examiners in their roles as forensic consultant and expert witness are discussed.
Abstract
The document examiner's main responsibilities are to examine disputed documents and present their findings and conclusions before the courts. However, many examiners, particularly those in private practice, are asked to assist legal counsel in assessing the findings of counsel retained by the opposing side of a case. One issue is whether a document examiner who previously reviewed the findings of another expert should perform a forensic examination. Another issue is whether examiners should testify in cases where they have not conducted an examination but have only reviewed the forensic evidence. A third issue relates to the examiner's responsibilities to counsel in preparing a review of an opposing expert's report. The code of ethics of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners provides answers to some of these concerns; others remain unanswered. Footnotes and 7 references