OPTIONAL CHARGE CONCERNING COMPENSATION OF EXPERTS Model Jury charge

 OPTIONAL CHARGE CONCERNING COMPENSATION OF EXPERTS  Model Jury charge

    The expert witnesses who testified, of course, are paid for their work. [CHARGE WHERE APPROPRIATE:[1] Experts are paid for their special knowledge, skill, experience, or training. Some may be full-time employees who receive a regular salary for their work, and some may be outside experts consulted for this particular case who receive a fixed or hourly fee.]

            You may consider the compensation received by the expert witness(es) as bearing on (his/her/their) credibility.  You should understand, however, that there is nothing improper in any expert receiving reasonable compensation for (his/her) work or for (his/her) appearing in court.

[CHARGE WHERE APPROPRIATE IF RAISED BY THE EVIDENCE]

            If you find from the evidence that the amount of compensation received is unreasonable, or if you find from the evidence that the expert was paid simply to reach a particular result, you may consider whether that affects the credibility, interest or bias of the witness.

[CHARGE IN ALL CASES]

            As always, you may give the opinion such weight as you determine it deserves, consistent with the general rules of determining credibility.

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[1]            See State v. Smith, 167 N.J. 158, 189 (2001).