ASTM E620-11

Standard Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Technical Experts

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This practice establishes those elements of the expert's 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.
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-Apr-2011
• ICS: 03.160 - Law. Administration
• Technical Committee: E30 - Forensic Sciences
• Drafting Committee: E30.11 - Interdisciplinary Forensic Science Standards

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E620-04 - Standard Practice foReporting Opinions of Scientific or Technical Experts
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E3175-22 - Standard Practice for Training in the Forensic Examination of Hair by Microscopy
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E3309-21 - Standard Guide for Reporting of Forensic Primer Gunshot Residue (pGSR) Analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (SEM/EDS)
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E2327-15e1 - Standard Practice for Quality Assurance of Laboratories Performing Seized-Drug Analysis
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D3415-98(2017) - Standard Practice for Identification of Waterborne Oils
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• 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-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D7297-21 - Standard Practice for Evaluating Residential Indoor Air Quality Concerns
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E3329-21e1 - Standard Practice for Establishing an Examination Scheme for Explosive Residues
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E3245-20e1 - Standard Guide for Systematic Approach to the Extraction, Analysis, and Classification of Ignitable Liquids and Ignitable Liquid Residues in Fire Debris Samples
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E3316-22 - Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Hair by Microscopy
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E3295-23 - Standard Guide for Using Micro X-Ray Fluorescence (μ-XRF) in Forensic Polymer Examinations
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E2228-23a - Standard Guide for Microscopical Examination of Textile Fibers
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E1843-20 - Standard Guide for Sexual Violence Investigation, Examination, and Evidence Collection Protocol
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E2224-23a - Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Fibers by Infrared Spectroscopy
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E2998-16 - Standard Practice for Characterization and Classification of Smokeless Powder
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011

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 −11
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 4.1.3 Name, address, and affiliation of each person who has
rendered an opinion contained in the report,
1.1 This practice covers the scope of information to be
4.1.4 Name of the person or organization, or both, request-
contained in formal written technical reports which express the
ing the report,
opinions of the scientific or technical expert with respect to the
4.1.5 Generic description of the item(s) examined together
study of items that are or may reasonably be expected to be the
with specific data to uniquely identify the item(s) such as a
subject of criminal or civil litigation.
serial number, marking, or some other means of adequately
1.2 If compliance with this standard is claimed, the justifi-
identifying the item(s) examined,
cations for any deviations from this standard must be docu-
4.1.6 Date and location of examination,
mented.
4.1.7 The scope of investigative activities performed in
1.3 This standard may involve hazardous materials,
preparation for reaching conclusions and opinions.
operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to
4.2 Pertinent Facts:
address all of the safety concerns associated with its use. It is
4.2.1 The report shall contain all facts that are pertinent to
the responsibility of whoever uses this standard to consult and
the opinion rendered and shall be reported in accordance with
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-
the classifications set forth in 4.2.1.1 and 4.2.1.2.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4.2.1.1 Identify those facts and data based on the observa-
tions by the expert of the item(s) in question or photographs
2. Referenced Documents
thereof.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.2.1.2 Identify other facts and data that the expert relies
E678 Practice for Evaluation of Scientific or Technical Data
upon in rendering an opinion.
4.2.2 Whenever pertinent findings of fact are established
3. Significance and Use
through examination or testing, the person(s) rendering the
3.1 This practice establishes those elements of the expert’s
opinion based on such findings shall have either supervised,
opinion report which will make the report understandable to
conducted, participated in or observed such examination or
the intended recipient and focus on the technical aspects
testing, and failing to do any one of them shall list the name
germane to the purpose for which the opinion is rendered.
and business address of each person who supervised or
conducted each examination or test establishing such findings
4. Report Content
of fact.
4.1 While this standard does not specify report format, the 4.2.3 Evaluate facts and data according to Practice E678.
following information shall be included:
4.3 Opinions and Conclusions:
4.1.1 Descriptive Information— The following informa-
4.3
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:E620–04 Designation: E620 – 11
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
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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E678 Practice for Evaluation of Scientific or Technical Data
2.2 Other Documents:
ISO/IEC 17025General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories
3. Significance and Use
3.1 This practice establishes those elements of the expert’s 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.
3.2Compliance with this standard is intended to ensure compliance with the reporting requirements set forth in ISO/IEC 17025.
4. Report Content
4.1 While this standard does not specify report format, the following information shall be included:
4.1.1 DescriptiveInformation— The following information shall be contained within the report, preferably in the introduction:
4.1.2 Identifying number and date the report was prepared,
4.1.3 Name, address, and affiliation of each person who has rendered an opinion contained in the report,
4.1.4 Name of the person or organization, or both, requesting the report,
4.1.5 Generic description of the item(s) examined together with specific data to uniquely identify the item(s) such as a serial
number, marking, or some other means of adequately identifying the item(s) examined,
4.1.6 Date and location of examination,
4.1.7 The scope of investigative activities performed in preparation for reaching conclusions and opinions.
4.2 Pertinent Facts:
4.2.1 The report shall contain all facts that are pertinent to the opinion rendered and shall be reported in accordance with the
classifications set forth in 4.2.1.1 and 4.2.1.2.
4.2.1.1 Identify those facts and data based on the observations by the expert of the item(s) in question or photographs thereof.
4.2.1.2 Identify other facts and data that the expert relies upon in rendering an opinion.
4.2.2 Whenever pertinent findings of fact are established through examination or testing, the person(s) rendering the opinion
based on suc
...