Which statement describes the basis for an expert's opinion?

Which statement describes the basis for an expert's opinion?

• A. The facts or data in the case upon which the expert relies.
• B. The judge's personal beliefs about the case.
• C. The expert's conclusions without supporting data.
• D. The content of the witness's own experience only.

Answer: (A)

An expert's opinion is grounded in the facts or data in the case that the expert relies on. Those facts form the foundation the expert uses, along with specialized knowledge, to reach a conclusion. The court checks that the data are reliable and that the methods used to interpret them are appropriate. Relying on the judge's personal beliefs isn’t appropriate, and offering conclusions without any supporting data provides no evidentiary basis. An expert may draw on their own experience, but that experience must be applied to the case data and supported by relevant information, not used alone.

An expert's opinion is grounded in the facts or data in the case that the expert relies on. Those facts form the foundation the expert uses, along with specialized knowledge, to reach a conclusion. The court checks that the data are reliable and that the methods used to interpret them are appropriate. Relying on the judge's personal beliefs isn’t appropriate, and offering conclusions without any supporting data provides no evidentiary basis. An expert may draw on their own experience, but that experience must be applied to the case data and supported by relevant information, not used alone.