An eyewitness, character witness, or other person called on to testify who is not considered an expert, is known as a ___________ witness.

• A. Eyewitness
• B. Expert
• C. Character
• D. Lay

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is how witnesses are classified by expertise. A lay witness is someone who testifies about facts or perceptions without any specialized training or knowledge. Eyewitness testimony and character testimony fall into this category because they rely on what the person observed or believes about a person’s character, not on technical analysis. An expert witness, by contrast, is someone with specialized knowledge who can offer opinions beyond common understanding.

Since the person described is not considered an expert, they’re a lay witness. The terms “eyewitness” and “character witness” are themselves examples of lay witnesses, but the general category for non-expert testimony is lay witness.