Lawyers can’t afford to have evidence or expert testimony excluded in the courtroom, especially when dealing with questioned documents. Thus, it’s important to contract a forensic document expert with the right training and experience. When a forensic document examiner testifies, it’s important for the trier of fact to understand and accept the testimony as accurate and credible.

For most juries (and even more so for judges), the credibility of your forensic document expert is going to hinge on three things:

• Is she genuinely qualified? A forensic document examiner should have no less than two years of post-graduate apprenticeship training with a qualified expert.
• Is she unbiased and professional? Obviously, if you are presenting evidence or calling for expert testimony, it’s because it supports your case. That makes it all the more important that any expert witness, including a forensic document examiner, has a professional reputation for conducting an unbiased examination and presenting objective information.
• Does she have an established and solid track record? Up to date training is important, as is her ability to provide you with useful forensic information to help in your case strategy.

Lawyers who fail to vet a forensic document examiner up front can be in for unpleasant surprises in the court room. Opposing counsel will invariably turn over every stone they can to try to discredit a forensic document expert. Lawyers do well to spending the time up front to make sure the forensic document examiner contracted will be seen as credible when the time comes for her to testify.

If you practice law in Southern California, Alliance Forensic Services’ forensic document examiner, Linda L. Mitchell, offers the competence and professionalism you need on the witness stand as your forensic document expert.

For more information or help with your handwriting signature analysis or document examination you can contact me at ALLIANCE FORENSIC SERVICES in Escondido, CA. 888-760-0339

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