Which of the following statements concerning the appointment of expert witnesses during trial is most...

The correct answer is B. The CFE Manual explains that in adversarial proceedings, expert witnesses are usually chosen by the parties to the litigation, although the court may also appoint an independent expert in some circumstances. By contrast, in inquisitorial jurisdictions, judges typically appoint their own experts to evaluate technical matters. That makes option B the most accurate statement.

Option A is incorrect because it reverses the usual adversarial rule. Courts in adversarial systems may appoint experts, but they are not generally the only ones allowed to do so. Option C is incorrect because juries do not generally select expert witnesses in inquisitorial jurisdictions; the judge typically performs that function. Option D is also inaccurate because the parties are not primarily responsible for selecting experts in inquisitorial systems; again, that role usually belongs to the court or judge. The Manual further notes that in inquisitorial systems, expert selection is often viewed as an extension of the court’s authority and discretion. Therefore, the best statement is that parties usually choose experts in adversarial cases, while the court may also appoint experts when appropriate.