Opinion ID: 2184105
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Reliability and Relevance

Text: Under Daubert , the trial court functions as a gatekeeper charged with keeping out unreliable, pseudoscientific evidence: [T]he trial judge must determine at the outset ... whether the expert is proposing to testify to (1) scientific knowledge that (2) will assist the trier of fact to understand or determine a fact in issue. This entails a preliminary assessment of whether the reasoning or methodology underlying the testimony is scientifically valid and of whether that reasoning or methodology properly can be applied to the facts in issue. [4] This procedure exists, in essence, to ensure that any and all scientific testimony or evidence admitted is not only relevant, but reliable. [5] Thus the trial court must first assess the reliability of the expert testimony  a factual determination for the trial judge [6]  and then evaluate its relevance. In evaluating the reliability of expert testimony, a trial court may consider a variety of factors: The factors set forth in Daubert and adopted in Mitchell that a trial court may apply in determining the admissibility of an expert's proffered testimony include, but are not limited to: (1) whether a theory or technique can be and has been tested; (2) whether the theory or technique has been subjected to peer review and publication; (3) whether, with respect to a particular technique, there is a high known or potential rate of error and whether there are standards controlling the technique's operation; and (4) whether the theory or technique enjoys general acceptance within the relevant scientific, technical, or other specialized community. [7] Application of these  Daubert factors is often the cornerstone of the reliability analysis. In addition to being reliable, the proposed testimony must `assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue.' This condition goes primarily to relevance.... The consideration has been aptly described ... as one of `fit'. [8]