South Dakota Jury Instruction — 5.2 Expert Witnesses When Expert Witness Fees Represent A Significant Portion Of The Witness' Income provides guidelines for cases in which expert witnesses heavily rely on fees earned from their expert testimony. This instruction aims to ensure that jurors understand the potential influence that such financial dependency can have on experts' testimonies and credibility. This instruction recognizes the fact that certain expert witnesses may obtain a substantial portion of their income from acting as witnesses in trials. When expert witness fees represent a significant portion of their income, jurors must consider the impact this financial reliance might have on the testimony provided. This instruction emphasizes the need to be cautious when evaluating the credibility and objectivity of expert witnesses. Jurors should be aware that experts who heavily depend on witness fees might face temptations or pressures that could potentially compromise their objectivity. It is important for jurors not to automatically discredit such witnesses but to scrutinize their testimony carefully. The South Dakota Jury Instruction — 5.2 Expert Witnesses When Expert Witness Fees Represent A Significant Portion Of The Witness' Income is designed to help jurors understand the potential biases that may arise from an expert witness's financial reliance on their testimony. By promoting awareness of this financial relationship, jurors can make more informed judgments when considering the weight and credibility of expert testimony in a trial. Different types of South Dakota Jury Instruction — 5.2 Expert Witnesses When Expert Witness Fees Represent A Significant Portion Of The Witness' Income could be: 1. Application of the Instruction: This section of the instruction provides guidance on when and how jurors should consider the potential bias and credibility implications arising from significant expert witness fees. It details the circumstances under which this instruction should be applied during a trial. 2. Evaluating Testimony and Credibility: This part of the instruction outlines the factors jurors should consider when evaluating the credibility of expert witnesses, specifically when their income heavily relies on witness fees. It may include important considerations such as consistency, objectivity, potential conflicts of interest, and any other relevant factors. 3. Balancing Credibility and Financial Reliance: This portion of the instruction weighs the potential biases stemming from an expert's financial reliance on witness fees against their professional expertise and qualifications. It aids jurors in striking a balance between recognizing potential motivations and acknowledging the value of expert opinions. In summary, the South Dakota Jury Instruction — 5.2 Expert Witnesses When Expert Witness Fees Represent A Significant Portion Of The Witness' Income aims to educate jurors about the potential biases that may arise when expert witnesses heavily depend on their witness fees. By acknowledging this financial relationship, jurors can critically evaluate the credibility and objectivity of expert testimony during trial proceedings.