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Imwinkelried's Argument for Normative Ethical Testimony

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2021

David W. Barnes
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Extract

Professor Imwinkelried has boldly attempted to justify the admissibility of normative ethical expertise in the face of a legal evidentiary rule requiring a scientific basis for expert testimony. Because ethical testimony is inherently unscientific, Professor Imwinkelried prudently focuses his analysis on circumstances where evidentiary requirements are less strict; those involving the legislative rather than adjudicative function of courts and those in which substantive law overrides normally rigorous evidentiary requirements. While both proposals may have merit and are thoughtful and creative, Professor Imwinkelried ultimately fails to provide sufficient doctrinal support or persuasive rationale for his arguments.

Professor Imwinkelrieds argument for the admissibility of “expert” normative ethical testimony has two parts. The major proposition is that, when courts are engaged in legislative functions, they should be permitted to consider all sources of information. The assumption that apparently underlies this proposition is that nothing limits courts’ exercise of legislative powers.

Type
Symposium
Information
Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics , Volume 33 , Issue 2 , Summer 2005 , pp. 234 - 241
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics 2005

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References

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