Courtroom Testimony Training for Firearms Examiners

This course is designed to introduce the students to the basics of courtroom testimony and the foundations for firearms examination and comparison admissibility in court.  Students will be exposed to how courts operate, proper courtroom etiquette, and the structure of the questioning that attorneys present during testimony.  This course will also introduce students to the admissibility requirements for firearms examinations and the comparison of evidence to be admitted in court.      

At the completion of this course, the students should be able to:

• Understand the basic terminology associated with testimony, admissibility, and courtroom structure 
• Understand the process of preliminary hearings, grand juries, and jury trials
• Understand the voir dire process in getting qualified to testify
• Understand pretrial motions and how they can impact testimony
• Understand what the jury expects of the witness
• Understand the roles of the judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, and court staff
• Understand basic techniques in testimony and demeanor on the stand
• Understand how to take technical terms and make them relatable to a jury
• Understand scientific admissibility in the courtroom
• Understand the role that Frye, Daubert, and Rule 702 play in the testimony of an expert
• Understand the skills required to conduct effective testimony