Expert Witness

The Weight of Our Testimony When Justice Hangs in the Balance

By: Ann Wolbert Burgess, Steven Matthew Constantine

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

From the author of the critically-acclaimed true crime account, A Killer By Design (the inspiration behind Hulu's original docuseries, Mastermind), a groundbreaking look into the crucial role played by expert witnesses in the most high-profile criminal cases, based on Dr. Ann Burgess’ personal experiences within the criminal justice system.

Written through Burgess’ singular lens of compassion and lived experience, Expert Witness pulls back the curtain on some of the biggest cases in the last thirty years—from Bill Cosby to the Menendez brothers to Larry Nassar—to reveal the deeply human stories behind the trials that have captivated a nation. The book explores the role of expert witnesses in high stakes court cases, offering first-hand accounts and never-before-seen interviews with attorneys, victims, and offenders.

Expert Witness places readers inside the mind of the nation’s most prominent courtroom expert, following Burgess as she takes on one seismic case after the next. Throughout the narrative, each case deepens the reader’s understanding of the art and science of expert testimony, taking readers from the women’s movement of the 1970s to the #MeToo movement of today—one of the largest social reckonings in recent history. At its core, Expert Witness is a story of empowerment. It’s a story of compassion and the ever-increasing need for individuals to stand up and speak truth to power or to popular opinion. And it's ultimately a story of how revolutionary one voice can be.

Outstanding.

This is a smart, human, evidence-based, and compelling look at the research and preparation that should (and did here) go into expert testimony in criminal prosecution. Definitely recommend it.

Engaging narrative of famous true crimes

Author’s involvement as an expert analyst for criminal cases is a valuable addition to our understanding of the effects of experiences on victims including the lasting psychological trauma of rape victims. A wide variety of important cases - goes much deeper than surface headlines or assumptions. Excellent narration made this an engaging story.

Couldn’t keep my attention

90% of the cases she talked Scott she played no roll in. It felt like rambling to me