从过去30年美国使用专家证言的法律经历中应吸取的教训

本文探讨了Frye标准,并将Frye案与Daubert案进行了比较,认为大多数遵行Daubert案的司法辖区,法院已经选择终结对传统科学、软科学和非科学专门知识免于审查的做法。在许多遵行Daubert案的司法辖区,法院开始认识到,基于硬科学技术的专家证言的可采性问题仅仅是冰山之一角。从过去30年美国使用专家证言的法律经验中应汲取的教训是,仅仅狭隘地关注硬科学证言是一个重大的错误。

中国证据法改革者面临的选择--从《联邦证据规则》与《加州证据法典》之对比中获得的启示

美国《联邦证据规则》作为英美成文证据法的典范,常常受到我国学者的青睐。但该规则并非可资借鉴的唯一美国模式。生效于1967年的《加州证据法典》被普遍认为在对普通法规则的修正方面获得了成功。其影响不仅限于加州地区,而且美国《联邦证据规则》中许多条款都曾以《加州证据法典》中的相应规定为范本。但在许多情况下,《加州证据法典》与《联邦联邦规则》在调整同一问题的规定之间也存在着明显的差异,它们体现了起草者不同的政策选择。理解这些差异有助于中国证据法改革者做出最契合本国文化和法律价值观的证据性选择。

THE FORM OF REFORM： REVISITING THE CHOICE AMONG A CREED, A CODE, AND A CATALOGUE

In the past, international Evidence law reformers have focused primarily on substantive evidentiary doctrines. However, for reforms to be effective, the courts and legislatures must state the revised doctrines in a form that promotes the overall objectives of the legal system. The basic choice facing reformers is among a creed identifying broad goals, a code stating flexible principles, and a catalogue prescribing detailed rules. In the past, especially in the United States, there was a consensus among Evidence scholars that the code format is preferable. However, if a key objective of a national legal system is to encourage pretrial disposition of cases, the courts and legislatures should give serious thought to utilizing a catalogue format. That format is especially attractive in the doctrinal areas such as privilege in which evidentiary rules are intended to affect primary behavior outside the courtroom.