A witness who qualifies as an expert because of knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may testify as an expert if scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the judge, jury, or other factfinder to understand the evidence or determine a contested fact issue.

But there is no rigid formula for determining whether a particular witness is qualified to testify as an expert. Generally there must be a fit between the subject matter at issue and the expert witness’s familiarity with the subject matter. And this determination is made by the judge, who acts as a gatekeeper to only allow reliable expert witness testimony to be heard and considered by the judge or jury.

In Arkansas, expert witness testimony is governed by rules similar to those found in the Federal Rules of Evidence. An individual may qualify as an expert witness if they possess specialized knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education that is pertinent to the case at hand. Their testimony is considered admissible if it provides assistance to the judge or jury in understanding complex evidence or in resolving disputed fact issues. The determination of whether a witness qualifies as an expert is not based on a strict formula but rather on the relevance and reliability of the expert's knowledge in relation to the subject matter of the case. The presiding judge serves as a gatekeeper, evaluating the proposed testimony to ensure that it is not only relevant but also reliable before allowing it to be presented to the factfinder. This gatekeeping role is crucial to prevent unreliable or irrelevant expert testimony from influencing the outcome of the trial.