Technical Terms
Cross-examination |
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A phase in the trial where the Defense counsel asks the witness questions; these may further clarify facts brought to light in the examination-in-chief or be completely independent line of questioning.
Evidentiary gatekeeper |
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Decides what kind of evidence is allowed in trial, and if an expert witness is allowed to testify.
Examination in Chief
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A phase in the trial where the Crown asks the witness questions, this is followed by the cross examination.
External validity
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A form of testing where the results concluded from an internal validity testing method can be applied to contexts outside that specific study.
Internal validity |
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Driven by controlled experimentation where the results being measured are most likely from the variable being studied; often pursued in research studies.
Science |
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A field of study that results in knowledge about the physical world through systemic observations and experimentation of a hypothesis to lead to inferences about a population based on sample testing.
Trier of Fact
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The judge or jury, depending on the case, are responsible for considering all presented evidence in determining the verdict of the case.
Voir Dire |
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A trial within a trial. A question period to determine if the presented evidence is admissible and if the witness/juror presented is competent to testify/act as the trier of fact; expert witnesses are also critiqued in this phase of questioning to determine if they have the qualifications to present their opinion in court.
Represents their client, often the accused. A defense lawyer may not support their client’s actions, but it is their job to provide a legal defense.
A scientist/expert in the field of study being questioned; they can present their opinion on the presented evidence when the trier of fact is unlikely to reach the correct inference on their own.
A phase in the trial where the Defense counsel asks the witness questions; these may further clarify facts brought to light in the examination-in-chief or be completely independent line of questioning.
Driven by controlled experimentation where the results being measured are most likely from the variable being studied; often pursued in research studies.
Acts as the evidentiary gatekeeper and a referee between the prosecution and defense; can act as trier of fact in certain cases. Responsible for interpreting the law in ambiguous situations and their interpretation is the law.
A group of individuals chosen through a formal selection process where the defense and prosecution pose questions to potential jurors.
The judge or jury, depending on the case, are responsible for considering all presented evidence in determining the verdict of the case.
