Customer Reviews

Testifying in Court: Guidelines and Maxims for the Expert Witness

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Brodsky provides you with what you REALLY need to know about being an expert witness, such as: how to survive a vicious cross-exam without losing your cool; what to do when personally attacked or criticised on the stand; how to behave toward and interact with the judge; how to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally; the difference between a believable presentation and an easily dismissed presentation of the same facts; and a lot more. Being an expert witness can be helpful and it can be lucrative, but it is apt to be neither easy nor fun. Take Brodsky with you on the airplane...you'll be glad you did. I was.

As an expert witness I have found this simple to read collection contians virtually every trick and technique used by opposing attorneys in cross examination. Not only do I reread it regularly but I also read it every evening before I am called to testify.

This is Brodsky's first book on Expert Witnessing and is now 6+ years old. It remains one of the best primers on what to expect, particularly for the psychologist, when working in a forensic environment. It is easy to read, has great stories, offers good citations, and covers a deceptively wide range of central issues for anyone wanting to be better prepared for work with lawyers and the courts. Each "chapter" is 2-3 pages in length, which makes them easy to read and digest in brief periods as each "chapter" is independent and stands alone well. I have read all three of the books in this "series" by Brodsky and continue to view this one as the best of the three.

After reading this book in preparation for an upcoming trial, I felt more confident and more in control for my role as an expert witness. I actually enjoyed testifying.

Everyone who has testified in Court has at least one horror story where the attorney made them look foolish or worse. This book prepares you with an understanding of the process, procedures and roles of courts and attorneys. Knowing how to handle those tough situations can increase confidence on the stand and reduce the disenchantment of having been "brow beaten" by an attorney. Everyone, but the most experienced expert witness will find this book invaluable.

This is an excellent book for the beginner who is interested in becoming an Expert Witness. The maxims are great in that after reading the chapter, you get one point made simply from all that was read. Also, this book gives you tips that you wouldn't normally think of -- even including how to dress for court.

I did enjoy this book and found vaious helpful and useful advice for testifying. However, the entire book is written from a psychologist's point of view and virtually all the examples and stories are from psychologist's testifying in court.

Being in the computer profession I had to relate how my experience would apply to the maxims and examples provided in this book. This was easy for some maxims, difficult for others, while some maxims and examples totally did not apply at all.

This book is short enough (as is the follow-up "Expert Expert Witness") to be read a few days before appearing as an expert witness or giving extended testimony on technical matters. The dialog in the examples could be read out loud as a way of calming the nerves. The basic advice - prepare well, and stay on point - is illustrated very well by the short chapters.

"Testifying in Court: Guidelines & Maxims For The Expert Witness", Stanley L. Brodsky. American Psychol. Assoc., Washington, DC. 1991-2007 (17th Print.). ISBN 1-55798-128-0, SC 208 Pgs., Table Contents, Preface, Introd. & 4 Pgs. ref., 8 7/8" x 5 7/8".


Following his 2 page Preface & 2 page Introduction for writing this book, author Brodsky provides 19 Chapters covering 62 Maxims for attorneys and their Expert Witnesses to consider in courtroom appearances and testimony.

The author had 20 years experience in leading workshops for mental health professionals on testifying in court and observed the emotional impact and mental anguish that can erupt from testifying in court - the bases of which have some common ground in humiliation, ineptness and distress of diverse sorts.

Brodsky gently informs us that lack of familiarity with the imposing or perceived coldness of the adversarial courtroom, the waiting, preparation and preconceptions of one's over-importance and tone of inquiry leveled during cross-examination can and is nullifying and that deception techniques of dissimulation, collaborative criticism, irrelevant experience, and intimidation can be wicked. Nonetheless, by being prepared, relaxed, and in control of emotional outbursts and applying Brodsky's Maxims good composure and responsible testimony can be achieved, albeit with some experience and more by some than others.

The extraordinarily clever drawings accompanying each Maxim are valuable additions that are exceedingly attractive inveiglements in this manual. Apparently they were done by Margaret Scott and these deserve some acclaim. Being in its 17th edition should, by itself, give testimony to the acceptance and success of this book.

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