Legal Definitions - court-appointed expert

A court-appointed expert is a person who is appointed by the court to provide an unbiased opinion on a particular subject. This person has developed skill or knowledge in a specific area through education or experience and can assist the fact-finder in making a decision.

• During a trial, a judge may appoint a medical expert to provide an opinion on the cause of a person's injuries.
• In a custody case, a court-appointed expert may be asked to evaluate the mental health of each parent and make a recommendation to the court.

These examples illustrate how a court-appointed expert can provide valuable information to the court and help the fact-finder make an informed decision. The expert is expected to be impartial and provide an unbiased opinion based on their knowledge and expertise.