Re: FW: What makes an 'expert' and expert?

["Richard L. Hess" <lists@richardhess.com>]

What makes an 'expert' and expert?



I think the answer is simple:



The person is able to convince a jury of the position that they are 

taking...and get big bucks for doing it.



In my side-business field, tape restoration, ( 

http://www.richardhess.com/tape/ ) forensic applications are the best 

paying. I have so far stayed away from them because I haven't taken the 

evidence courses and do not have the flexibility in my day job to travel 

and wait and testify. I have talked with several people who had questions 

relating to forensics, and then referred them to others.



Two of these made my skin crawl because I thought they were trying to 

manipulate the taped evidence to their favor by partial erasure and then 

blaming it on a malfunctioning machine (unlikely).



Another example: The Westerfield case. Several bug experts for the defense 

failed to convince the jury that the insect evidence on the body was not in 

keeping with the theory that Westerfield did it...at least that's what I 

heard in the media. I hate it when experts disagree!



Cheers,



Richard



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