Expert Witness Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Expert Witness.

Expert Witness (noun): A person who possesses specialized knowledge or skills in a particular subject, due to their training, experience or education. In a legal context, this person is allowed to provide opinion-based testimony in a lawsuit or criminal case because of their expertise. They act as a special exception to the standard rule that disallows opinions as evidence. The qualifications of an expert witness may be subject to verification and acceptance by the trial judge. These witnesses are typically reimbursed generously for their contributions, and both sides normally disclose the proposed experts' identities during pre-trial proceedings.