Commentary: expert testimony as a potential asset in defense of capital sentencing cases.
Montgomery et al. have documented the extent to which jurors apparently do and do not rely on expert testimony regarding dangerousness and mental illness. This article reviews some of the methodological issues raised by their findings and argues that their results have potential value for appellate defense counsel in appealing death sentences in which trial counsel failed to introduce expert testimony on mental illness.
Edersheim
Judith G
JG
The Law and Psychiatry Sercice, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA. jbeck1@bidmc.harvard.edu
Beck
James C
JC
D002203:Capital Punishment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States