ASTM E620-04

Standard Practice foReporting Opinions of Scientific or Technical Experts

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This practice establishes those elements of the expert’opinion report which will make the report understandable to the intended recipient and focus on the technical aspects germane to the purpose for which the opinion is rendered.
Compliance with this standard is intended to ensure compliance with the reporting requirements set forth in ISO/IEC 17025.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the scope of information to be contained in formal written technical reports which express the opinions of the scientific or technical expert with respect to the study of items that are or may reasonably be expected to be the subject of criminal or civil litigation.
1.2 If compliance with this standard is claimed, the justifications for any deviations from this standard must be documented.
1.3 This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns associated with its use. It is the responsibility of whoever uses this standard to consult and establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2004
• ICS: 03.160 - Law. Administration
• Technical Committee: E30 - Forensic Sciences
• Drafting Committee: E30.11 - Interdisciplinary Forensic Science Standards

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E620-97 - Standard Practice for Reporting Opinions of Technical Experts
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Replaced By: ASTM E620-11 - Standard Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Technical Experts
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E2227-23e1 - Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Dyes in Textile Fibers by Thin-Layer Chromatography
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E3253-21 - Standard Practice for Establishing an Examination Scheme for Intact Explosives
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E3294-22 - Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Geological Materials by Powder X-Ray Diffraction
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D3415-98(2017) - Standard Practice for Identification of Waterborne Oils
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E2881-18 - Standard Test Method for Extraction and Derivatization of Vegetable Oils and Fats from Fire Debris and Liquid Samples with Analysis by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D7297-21 - Standard Practice for Evaluating Residential Indoor Air Quality Concerns
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E2809-22 - Standard Guide for Using Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) in Forensic Polymer Examinations
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E2997-16 - Standard Test Method for Analysis of Biodiesel Products by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E2225-23 - Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Fabrics and Cordage
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E3255-21 - Standard Practice for Quality Assurance of Forensic Science Service Providers Performing Forensic Chemical Analysis
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E3295-23 - Standard Guide for Using Micro X-Ray Fluorescence (μ-XRF) in Forensic Polymer Examinations
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E2327-15e1 - Standard Practice for Quality Assurance of Laboratories Performing Seized-Drug Analysis
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E2998-16 - Standard Practice for Characterization and Classification of Smokeless Powder
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E620 – 04
Standard Practice for
1
Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Technical Experts
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E620; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 4.1.1 Descriptive Information—The following information
shall be contained within the report, preferably in the introduc-
1.1 This practice covers the scope of information to be
tion:
contained in formal written technical reports which express the
4.1.2 Identifying number and date the report was prepared,
opinions of the scientific or technical expert with respect to the
4.1.3 Name, address, and affiliation of each person who has
study of items that are or may reasonably be expected to be the
rendered an opinion contained in the report,
subject of criminal or civil litigation.
4.1.4 Name of the person or organization, or both, request-
1.2 If compliance with this standard is claimed, the justifi-
ing the report,
cations for any deviations from this standard must be docu-
4.1.5 Generic description of the item(s) examined together
mented.
with specific data to uniquely identify the item(s) such as a
1.3 This standard may involve hazardous materials, opera-
serial number, marking, or some other means of adequately
tions, and equipment. This standard does not purport to
identifying the item(s) examined,
address all of the safety concerns associated with its use. It is
4.1.6 Date and location of examination,
the responsibility of whoever uses this standard to consult and
4.1.7 The scope of investigative activities performed in
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-
preparation for reaching conclusions and opinions.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4.2 Pertinent Facts:
2. Referenced Documents
4.2.1 The report shall contain all facts that are pertinent to
2
the opinion rendered and shall be reported in accordance with
2.1 ASTM Standards:
the classifications set forth in 4.2.1.1 and 4.2.1.2.
E678 Practice for Evaluation of Scientific orTechnical Data
4.2.1.1 Identify those facts and data based on the observa-
2.2 Other Documents:
tions by the expert of the item(s) in question or photographs
ISO/IEC 17025 General Requirements for the Competence
thereof.
of Testing and Calibration Laboratories
4.2.1.2 Identify other facts and data that the expert relies
3. Significance and Use
upon in rendering an opinion.
4.2.2 Whenever pertinent findings of fact are established
3.1 This practice establishes those elements of the expert’s
through examination or testing, the person(s) rendering the
opinion report which will make the report understandable to
opinion based on such findings shall have either supervised,
the intended recipient and focus on the technical aspects
conducted, participated in or observed such examination or
germane to the purpose for which the opinion is rendered.
testing, and failing to do any one of them shall list the name
3.2 Compliance with this standard is intended to ensure
and business address of each person who supervised or
compliance with the reporting requirements set forth in ISO/
conducted each examination or test es
...