State Courts

Judge: expert ?charged much, prepared little? for Schneider trial

By Ron Sylvester

A defense expert critical of Sedgwick County medical examiners received his own substandard review from the federal judge who presided over the trial of Stephen and Linda Schneider.

Although Steven Karch wrote a widely recognized book on drug pathology, his testimony in Wichita did not impress U.S. District Judge Monti Belot.

In denying the Schneiders’ motion for a new trial, Belot wrote:

“The jury was free to conclude that Karch was merely ‘an expert in his own mind,’ a charlatan pure and simple. This court has grown accustomed to, if not accepting of, professional witnesses. Karch, who charged much but prepared little for his testimony, is a prime example of the witness who, if nothing else, knows how to ‘dance with the one who brung ya.’”

Full post as published by What the Judge Ate for Breakfast on August 18, 2010 (boomark / email).