The Influence of Expert Testimony in Simulated Jury Trials Involving Battered Woman Syndrome

Those who have never experienced abuse do not easily understand the physical and psychological impact it has in the lives of battered women. The presence of expert testimony allows judges and juries to gain information on the circumstances faced by these women and illustrates the fear they experience. A mock trial scenario was used to investigate the influence of expert testimony on juror decision-making. California jury-eligible volunteers read a trial transcript, half of which included a piece of expert testimony. Participants completed questionnaires and individual verdicts as well as participated in a group deliberation in order to determine a group verdict. Participants did not find the expert testimony influential to their verdict decision even when finding the expert credible. These findings suggest juror decisions are based on a combination of factors and expert testimony is only one of those. In addition, the implications for future research of these and other factors are discussed.