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RON SMITH & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Courtroom Testimony Training for Firearms Examiners

Course Description

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.      

Course Objectives

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
Instructor Photo
Andy Smith
MS, AFTE-FA, AFTE-TM, AFTE-GSR

Course Logistics

When:

November 16, 2026 - November 20, 2026

Where:

Riley Workforce Development Center

1524 MS-19

Meridian, MS 39307

Hours:

40

Tuition:

$1,000.00

Local Contact

Ron Smith and Associates, Inc.

Lucas Hatcher, Director of Operations

601-626-1100

lhatcher@ronsmithandassociates.com

Course Expectations

  • Each student is expected to be present, on time, and to participate in each assignment. 
  • Class will run from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday
  • Exams:  There will be a 20-question written test (multiple choice)
  • Practical: There will be practice moot court sessions

Recommended Reading

  1. Budowle, B., et.al. “A Perspective on Errors, Bias, and Interpretation in the Forensic Sciences and Direction for Continuing Advancement”, Journal of Forensic Science, Vol. 54, No. 4, July 2009, pp. 798-809.
  2. Moenssens, A.A., “Admissibility of Scientific Evidence – An Alternative to the Frye Rule”, William and Mary Law Review, Vol. 25, Issue 4, pp. 545-575.
  3. “AFTE Code of Ethics” AFTE.org, pp. 1-5
  4. “CAC Code of Ethics” California Association of Criminalist, pp. 1-6.
  5. “SWGGUN Code of Ethics” Scientific Working Group for Firearms and Toolmarks, 2013, p. 1.
  6. Garrison, D.H., “Bad Science”, 1991, pp. 1-5.
  7. Burt, M., and Philpott, K., “Using the NAS Reports in Firearm and Toolmark Challenges”, AFTE power point presentation.
  8. Steele, L., “Science for Lawyers”, American Bar Association, Chapter 1 (Ballistics), 2008, pp. 1-29.
  9. Dror, I.E., “The Error in ‘Error Rate’: Why Error Rates are So Needed, Yet So Elusive”, Journal of Forensic Sciences, Vol. 65, No. 4, July 2020, pp. 1034-1039.
  10. Dutton, G., “Ethics in Forensic Firearms Investigation”, AFTE Journal, Vol. 37, No. 2, Spring 2005, pp. 79-85.
  11. Rosenberry, J.L., “Firearm/Toolmark Examination and the Daubert Criteria”, AFTE Journal, Vol. 35, No. 1, Winter 2003, pp. 38-48.
  12. Moran, B., “Firearms Examiner Expert Witness Testimony: The Forensic Firearms Identification Process Including Criteria for Identification and Distance Determination”, AFTE Journal, Vol. 32, No. 3, Summer 2000, pp. 231-251.
  13. Heard, B.J., “Handbook of Firearms and Ballistics”, Wiley Publishers, 2nd edition, 2011, Chapter 9,  pp. 225-231.
  14. “Modern Scientific Evidence: The Law and Science of Expert Testimony” West Group, Vol. 3, Chapter 35 (Firearms and Toolmark Identification) 1999, pp. 645-723
  15. Murdock, J.E., et.al. “The Development and Application of Random Match Probabilities to Firearm and Toolmark Identification”, Journal of Forensic Science, Vol. 62, No. 3, May 2017, pp. 619-625.
  16. Dillon, J.H., Hill, G., and Hill, R.,, “NFSTC Training Module 14 – Communicating Results”, pp. 1-35.
  17. Collins, J., “Scientific Reliability – Publication, Peer Review, and the AFTE Journal”, AFTE Journal, Vol. 32, No. 2, Spring 2000, pp. 132-135.
  18. Kaufmann, M.S., “The Status of Daubert in State Courts”, Atlantic Legal Foundation, 2006, pp. 1-37.
  19. Cappellino, A., “The Daubert Trilogy: Navigating the Standard for Expert Witness Challenges”, The Expert Institute, 2016, pp. 1-3.
  20. Dutton, G., “The importance of Being Impartial”, AFTE Journal, Vol. 30, No. 3, Summer 1998, pp. 523-526.
  21. McVeigh, S.C., “Use of Metaphors to Clarify Technical Firearm Concepts”, AFTE Journal, Vol. 45, No. 1, Winter 2013, pp. 86-88.
  22. Berry, S.M., “When Experts Lie”, TruthandJustice.org, pp. 1-3.
  23. Smith, W.C., “Who Me…Biased? Or We Have Met the Enemy, and He is Us”, AFTE Journal, Vol. 25, No. 4, October 1993, pp. 260-263.
  24. Dror, I.E., “Why Experts Make Errors”, Journal of Forensic Identification, Vol. 56, No. 4, 2006, pp. 600-616.

Helpful Lodging Information

Although we cannot endorse any particular hotel property, we have confirmed that the following lodging options are within a reasonable commuting distance to the training site.

Drury Inn & Suites Meridian

112 US-11

Meridian MS 39301