Judge tells colleagues to be ‘on their guard’ over expert witness evidence

Patrick Hodge said the increasing complexity of modern legal cases mean expert witnesses are playing a larger role in the justice system. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Judges need to be “on their guard” about expert witness evidence, according to a leading supreme court judge, who urged the legal profession to improve their “scientific and technical literacy” to help prevent miscarriages of justice.

Patrick Hodge, who is deputy president of the supreme court and president of the Expert Witness Institute, said the increasing complexity of legal cases in modern society means expert witnesses are playing a bigger role than ever before.