Brief Fact Summary. The defendant, Ernest Odom (the “defendant”), was charged and convicted of possession of crack cocaine and with intent to distribute crack cocaine. A search warrant executed on the defendant’s residence revealed eighteen vials of crack cocaine in a bag inside a pillowcase.
Synopsis of Rule of Law. A qualified expert’s opinion may be offered into evidence if it relates to a subject that is not within the understanding of an average person of ordinary experience, education, and knowledge.
The ex post facto clause was intended to secure substantial personal rights against arbitrary and oppressive legislation, and not to limit the legislative control of remedies and modes of procedure which do not affect matters of substance.
View Full Point of LawIssue. Was the state’s expert opinion properly admitted by the trial court?
Was the question asked of the expert and answered by him proper?
Held. In reversing the judgment of the lower court, Justice Handler issued the opinion for the Supreme Court of New Jersey, finding that the expert’s opinion was properly admitted.
While the expert did incorporate the defendant’s name into the hypothetical question, J. Handler found the error harmless and the questions asked and answered was not improper.
Discussion. The Supreme Court of New Jersey found the expert’s opinion to be properly admitted because the subject matter was within the expert’s specialized knowledge, and beyond the knowledge of average persons. Further, the expert’s opinion with regard to intent to distribute did not express a view that the defendant was guilty of the crime charged.
The Supreme Court of New Jersey set forth the standards governing expert testimony. An expert’s opinion should be expressed in language an average person can understand, with no unnecessary repetition of the language of the offense, and avoid using the defendant’s name. Further, the opinion should be expressed by presenting the expert with a hypothetical, while assuring that the jury and the witness understand the opinion can only be based on facts that are in evidence.