A Guide to Forensic Testimony: The Art and Practice of Presenting Testimony as an Expert Technical Witness

Appendix B. Federal Rules

This appendix contains those federal rules of evidence and procedure that contain provisions of special relevance to technical expert witnesses.

Federal Rules of Procedure

Rule 16. Pretrial Conferences; Scheduling; Management

Pretrial Conferences; Objectives.

In any action, the court may in its discretion direct the attorneys for the parties and any unrepresented parties to appear before it for a conference or conferences before trial for such purposes as

1. expediting the disposition of the action;

2. establishing early and continuing control so that the case will not be protracted because of lack of management;

3. discouraging wasteful pretrial activities;

4. improving the quality of the trial through more thorough preparation, and;

5. facilitating ...