The unique position of professionals who witness climate change is to take part in the global warming debate. They may act as advocates and stress a particular side of the debate, but they have a different obligation to the public than a citizen. As such, their witnessing must avoid bias and ensure that facts highlighted are accurate.
Witnessing is not an easy task. There are both practical and political constraints. There are tensions between the obligation of serving the public and the obligation to respect professional knowledge. In addition, professional witnessing requires a clear and persuasive communication style to engage the public. Tension is created by the need to be persuasive in public speech and the obligation to present expert knowledge responsibly.
Professional witnesses may be called to court as witnesses in criminal cases. They may be summoned by the Procurator Fiscal, Reporter on the Children’s Panel or any other legal counsel. They may also be summoned by a defense attorney, family lawyer or child lawyer. Witnesses will be given formal notices that they are required to attend in these cases.
In some cases, a professional witness will be called upon to give oral evidence. Their role will be to interpret the facts of a case. They will be required to take oath before the court. This requires a clear understanding of their role and the GMC guidelines when giving evidence. The witness should be ready to answer questions from the barristers during the trial.
Expert testimony is an important component of civil and criminal cases. Expert witnesses are often called upon to testify. Judges will benefit from their expertise in complex scientific issues. As such, these professionals are crucial in deciding the fate of a case. The role of an expert witness varies from one case to the next.
A comprehensive investigation of the opposing expert witness is standard procedure for litigators. An attorney could be held responsible if an expert witness is not vetted properly. Therefore, it is imperative to do research on the topic and identify thought leaders and respected professionals. Conducting research is necessary to gain a better understanding of the subject and to determine if expert opinions are helpful.
Expert witnesses are required to establish a proper chain of custody for the evidence they provide. This chain of custody includes scholarly works, field studies and trainings that build a firm foundation of knowledge. In addition, they must prepare a report before trial, which allows the opposing party to cross-examine the expert.