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Daubert / Frye split

Definition

Two competing standards for expert testimony admissibility in the US. Daubert (1993) uses a multi-factor reliability test applied by the trial judge. Frye (1923) applies a simpler 'general acceptance' test. Federal courts and most states use Daubert; a minority of states still apply Frye.

Related terms

Chain of custody
The documented chronological record of who collected, handled, transferred, and examined a piece of evidence. For digital evidence, chain of custody includes...
Daubert standard
The US federal evidentiary standard (Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 1993) requiring that expert testimony be based on scientifically valid methods with...
Examination scope
The defined boundaries of a forensic examination: what evidence was examined, what questions were asked, what time periods were covered, and what...
Expert witness
A person whose specialised knowledge is accepted by a court and who gives opinion evidence, not just factual evidence. Forensic auditors frequently...
Hash verification
The process of computing a cryptographic hash (SHA-256 or equivalent) of the exhibit file and comparing it against a previously recorded value...

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