What qualifies as expert testimony?

• A. Testimony that repeats what is in a police report
• B. Testimony by any witness about observed events
• C. Testimony given by a person qualified as an expert to aid the court's understanding on technical matters
• D. Testimony from a layperson about everyday observations

Answer: (C)

Expert testimony comes from someone who has specialized knowledge gained through education, training, or experience and who is qualified by the court to help understand technical or complex matters. This kind of testimony goes beyond what an ordinary person can know and offers opinions or analyses grounded in reliable methods relevant to the issue at hand. That’s why the option describing a person qualified as an expert to aid the court on technical matters is the best fit.

By contrast, testimony by a lay witness about what they observed, or someone simply repeating a police report or routine events, reflects ordinary perception or hearsay rather than specialized analysis. Such testimony stays within common knowledge and does not involve the expert’s specialized insight.