State v. Copeland
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Summary

The TN Supreme Court held that expert testimony on eyewitness identification may be admissible when it assists the jury, overruled its prior categorical ban, and ordered a new trial because excluding the expert was not harmless.

2007 | State Juristiction

State v. Copeland

Keywords expert testimony; eyewitness identification; admissible; overruled; categorical ban
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Summary

The Tennessee Supreme Court decided that expert testimony about eyewitness identification can be used in court if it helps a jury. The Court overturned its previous rule that completely banned such testimony. A new trial was ordered because the choice to not allow the expert to testify was found to have harmed the case.

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Summary

The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that expert testimony about eyewitness identification can be allowed in court. This type of testimony can help a jury understand the evidence. The court overturned its previous rule that completely banned such testimony. A new trial was ordered because the decision to exclude the expert in the original trial was not a minor error.

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Summary

The Tennessee Supreme Court decided that expert opinions about eyewitness identification can be used in trials. This kind of testimony is allowed when it helps the jury understand the evidence better. The court overturned its previous rule that completely banned such expert testimony. As a result, the court ordered a new trial because the earlier decision to not allow the expert to testify was not a minor error.

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Summary

The Tennessee Supreme Court decided that a special kind of information from an expert about how people remember things they see (eyewitness identification) can be used in court. This information can help the jury understand things better. The court changed its old rule that never allowed this kind of information. It ordered a new trial because not letting the expert speak was a mistake that might have changed the outcome.

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Footnotes and Citation

Cite

State v. Copeland, 226 S.W.3d 287 (2007)

Highlights