Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Ahead of Print
  • Past Issues
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Print Subscriptions
  • About
    • About the Journal
    • About the Academy
    • Editorial Board
  • Feedback
  • Alerts
  • AAPL

User menu

  • Alerts

Search

  • Advanced search
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
  • AAPL
  • Alerts
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Ahead of Print
  • Past Issues
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Print Subscriptions
  • About
    • About the Journal
    • About the Academy
    • Editorial Board
  • Feedback
  • Alerts
Book ReviewBooks and Media

Testifying in Court: Guidelines and Maxims for the Expert Witness

Stephen I. Kramer
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online June 2015, 43 (2) 257-258;
Stephen I. Kramer
Winston-Salem, NC
MD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading
By Stanley L. Brodsky. Second edition. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2013. 238 pp. $29.95.

This latest book from forensic psychologist Stanley Brodsky, like its first edition in 1991, is a gem. Entertaining, empowering, and erudite, Testifying in Court: Guidelines and Maxims for the Expert Witness is directed at forensic psychologists, although it applies to all expert witnesses, from the novice to the experienced, who face the “dreadful and wonderful experiences on the witness stand” (p 4). The 55 chapters, ranging in length from three to seven pages, are arranged alphabetically in an acrostic structure, each ending with a maxim that is witty, obvious, or counterintuitive. The content has been gleaned from the author's expert witness workshops, research, and laboratory contributions.

Although much has been copied or only minimally updated from the first edition, there are significant revisions and additions, as well as omissions, in this second edition. For example, the chapter on Child Sexual Abuse Testimony includes updated material, and the previous discussion of anatomic dolls has been removed. New maxims cover Knowing When to Fold Them (withdrawing from a case), Malingering and Faking Bad, Moving On, Narcissistic Experts, Negative Assertions, Perspective Taking, Pull to Affiliate and Allegiance Effects, Qualifications and Expertise, Report Matters, Socialization During Trial, Staying Current, Theatrical and Outlandish Attorneys, Worst Testifying Experience, and Your Expertise Used Against You.

Gone are chapters on Elder Abuse and Neglect, Employment Discrimination, Fishing Expeditions, Limits of Expertise, Orientation to the Courtroom, Primary Source Gambit, Scientific Challenges, Star Witness, Termination of Parental Rights, and While Lawyers Fuss.

A sample of the more witty maxims: “After a disaster during testimony, correct the error as soon as you can. If you cannot, let it go” (p 61). “A few people are just not cut out for testifying in court. They should move on” (p 130). “Neither socialize nor discuss any aspect of the case with opposing counsel, with other witnesses, and especially not with jurors” (p 189). The obvious: “Challenges to professional experience should be met with knowledge of the literature and affirmations of the worth of your findings” (p 23). “When you truly do not know, say so. Don't waffle” (p 186). The counterintuitive: “Always have in reserve slow and quiet replies and proper manners, and if the opportunity arises, clinical reflections” (p 103). “When the time is right to disagree with cross-examination questions, do so with strength, clarity and conviction” (p 136). “When the cross-examination question is true but asked in a pushy and negative manner, consider agreeing strongly” (p 169).

There is an up-to-date composite reference list that even includes the latest edition in the Ziskin and Faust series1 and a useful index. Readers are invited to share their testifying experiences directly with the author by e-mail, perhaps with a third edition in mind.

Footnotes

  • Disclosures of financial or other potential conflicts of interest: None.

  • © 2015 American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law

Reference

  1. 1.↵
    1. Faust D
    : Coping with Psychiatric and Psychological Testimony, 6th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online: 43 (2)
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
Vol. 43, Issue 2
1 Jun 2015
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in recommending The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law site.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Testifying in Court: Guidelines and Maxims for the Expert Witness
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Testifying in Court: Guidelines and Maxims for the Expert Witness
Stephen I. Kramer
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online Jun 2015, 43 (2) 257-258;

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero

Share
Testifying in Court: Guidelines and Maxims for the Expert Witness
Stephen I. Kramer
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online Jun 2015, 43 (2) 257-258;
del.icio.us logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Footnotes
    • Reference
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

Cited By...

More in this TOC Section

  • A Forensic Analysis of the Netflix Film Hit Man
  • Inside (2023 Film)
  • Brain Science for Lawyers, Judges, and Policymakers
Show more Books and Media

Similar Articles

Site Navigation

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Ahead of Print
  • Archive
  • Information for Authors
  • About the Journal
  • Editorial Board
  • Feedback
  • Alerts

Other Resources

  • Academy Website
  • AAPL Meetings
  • AAPL Annual Review Course

Reviewers

  • Peer Reviewers

Other Publications

  • AAPL Practice Guidelines
  • AAPL Newsletter
  • AAPL Ethics Guidelines
  • AAPL Amicus Briefs
  • Landmark Cases

Customer Service

  • Cookie Policy
  • Reprints and Permissions
  • Order Physical Copy

Copyright © 2025 by The American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law