 In
his Access to Justice Report (1996), Lord
Woolf in England identified expert witnesses
and discovery as the two principle causes
of excessive expense, delay and complexity
in the civil justice system. His report prompted
the drive for reforms in the United Kingdom,
particularly relating to the use of expert
testimony. He advocated the formation of an
Institute as a means of achieving that goal.
The Expert Witness Institute in England was
incorporated on 12 February, 1997. Its purpose
was to change the culture associated with
expert witnesses, and to support the system
of justice by ensuring that experts had the
necessary qualification, training and support
to understand and discharge their role and
obligations within the legal system. The impetus
for change brought about by Lord Woolf's Report
has in turn given rise to similar reforms
in the civil justice system in Australia.
The need for the services provided by the
Expert Witness Institute in England is evidenced
by its current membership, which now exceeds
1000; including founding sponsors, professional
bodies, corporate members and individual members.
There is little reason to doubt that there
is a similar need in Australia and that the
EWIA will mirror the success of its English
counterpart. |
