Appointment of Expert Witnesses by Court

(a)The court may order the defendant or the government or both to show cause why an expert witness should not be appointed, and may request the parties to submit nominations. The court may appoint any expert witness agreed upon by the parties, and may appoint a witness of its own selection. An expert witness shall not be appointed by the court unless he consents to act.

(b)A witness appointed pursuant to Subsection

(a)shall be informed of his duties by the court in writing, a copy of which shall be filed with the clerk, or at a conference in which the parties shall have an opportunity to participate. A witness so appointed shall advise the parties of his findings, if any, and may thereafter be called to testify by the court or by any party. He shall be subject to cross-examination by each party. COL120106 CH. 95 EVIDENCE

(c)The court shall determine the reasonable compensation of a witness appointed pursuant to Subsection

(a)and direct his payment out of such funds as may be provided by law.

(d)Nothing in this Section precludes a party from calling an expert witness of his own selection.