Law Society of Ontario (LSO) Paralegal Practice Exam

What must be established for expert evidence to be admissible in court?

1. The evidence relates to a criminal matter

2. The expert is an attorney

3. The evidence is logically relevant to a material issue

4. The evidence is presented by a witness

The correct answer is: The evidence is logically relevant to a material issue

For expert evidence to be admissible in court, it is essential that the evidence is logically relevant to a material issue. This means that the expert testimony must directly address a point that is significant to the case at hand. The relevance of the evidence ensures that it aids the court in understanding the facts, determining a fact in issue, or reaching a conclusion that affects the outcome of the case. Logically relevant evidence contributes to the decision-making process by providing insights, analysis, or conclusions that lie beyond the typical understanding of a layperson. This becomes crucial in circumstances where the matter in question involves specialized knowledge or a technical subject that requires expert interpretation. Other considerations for admissibility include the qualifications of the expert witness and whether their methods of analysis are sound. However, the key criterion here is the logical relevance of the evidence to a material issue, which forms the foundation for the utility of expert testimony in court proceedings.