On Demand
Audio
Illinois Criminal Evidentiary Rules: Expert Witnesses & Opinion Evidence
Produced on April 16, 2014
Course Information
Course Description
Illinois has finally adopted formal rules of evidence. Despite the declared intentions of the drafters, these rules do not fully harmonize with Illinois’ common law of evidence and the ad hoc modifications of those rules enacted by the legislature over the years. In Part 7 of his 7-part series entitled "Old Wine in a New Bottle: Illinois Law of Evidence and New Rules of Evidence for Criminal Defense," attorney Stephen L. Richards discusses the rules and case law governing the admission of opinion and expert testimony, including discussions of the Frye Rule, expert hearsay and exclusions of expert testimony.
Learning Objectives:
I. Discuss the rules and case law governing the admission of opinion and expert testimony, including:
- Frye Rule
- Expert hearsay
- Exclusions of expert testimony
Credit Information
Faculty
Stephen Richards
Law Office of Stephen L. Richards
Areas of Practice
• Murder -- Homicide -- Death Penalty Cases
• Serious Felonies
• Drug / Weapons Cases
• Appeals -- Post-Convictions
• Sentencing -- Mitigation
• Civil Rights/1983
• Legal Education
• Legal Ethics
Litigation Percentage
• 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Certified Legal Specialties
• Certified Lead Counsel, Capital Litigation Trial Bar, Illinois Supreme Court, 2001
Bar Admissions
• Illinois, 1985
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 2008
Education
• Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, New York
o J.D. - 1983
o Honors: Order of Barristers, Moot Court
• University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
o B.A.
o Honors: With Honors
o Major: History
Published Works
• Reasonable Doubt Redux, 34 John Marshall L. Rev. 495, 2001
• The Admissibility of Expert Testimony, American Bar Association, 2003
Representative Cases
• People v. Terry Griggs, 152 Ill.2d 1, 604 N.E.2d 257 (Ill. S. Ct. 1992)
• People v. Arthur King, 154 Ill.2d 217, 608 N.E.2d 877 (Ill. S. Ct. 1993)
Classes/Seminars
• New Ideas for Jury Selection, Illinois Public Defender Association, 2007
• Capital Jury Selection, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal, 2007
Honors and Awards
• Kutak-Dodds Award, Defender Prize, National Legal Aid and Defender Association, 2003
Professional Associations and Memberships
• Illinois Public Defender Association, President, 2006 - 2008
• Illinois Public Defender Association, Board Member, 2000 - Present
Past Employment Positions
• Office of the State Appellate Defender, Deputy Defender, 2000 - 2008
• Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, Assistant Public Defender, 1989 - 2000
Reviews
very interesting
Very good presentation.
good
very informative.
Knowledgeable, engaging speaker.
Very useful information for my practice area.
An excellent series!
Listened to all seven sections--cumulatively a v ery excellent series.
excellent presentation...my favorite so far.
This was a great presentation. I would like to see more like this.
interesting content. Haven't thought about the Fry Standard since bar review
Very useful for Illinois attorneys involved with trial work.
Excellent presentation.
Good outline followed with case law! Thanks!
Outstanding. Great speaker: concise, articulate, informed. Nice overview of the relevant principles, without veering into esoteric territory.
The speaker's knowledge of the civil expert admissibility cases was lacking somewhat.
very effective and knowledgeable speaker
Excellent lecture!
Would appreciate some time devotedto child witnesses.