An expert appointed by a trial court to assist it in the adjudication of a case in which his special skill and knowledge may aid the court is an officer of the court from the time of his qualification until the rendition of final judgment in the case.
Art. 373.Expert Appointed By Court
Title I. Courts · Chapter 7. Other Officers of the Court · Amendment history unavailable · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 373 makes an expert a trial court appoints to assist it with special skill or knowledge relevant to deciding a case an officer of the court, a status that lasts from the time the expert qualifies until the case reaches final judgment.
Full Text of Art. 373
Plain-English Summary
A court-appointed expert under Article 373 is not the same as an expert witness a party hires and calls to testify. Here, the court itself brings in someone with the special skill or knowledge the case requires, to help the court, not either side, understand a technical, scientific, or otherwise specialized issue.
Because the expert works for the court, Article 373 gives the expert officer-of-the-court status for the length of that engagement — starting when the expert qualifies for the appointment and ending when the court renders final judgment in the case. That status ties the expert to duties enforceable through the courts, discussed in Articles 375 and 376.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a court-appointed expert the same as an expert witness a party hires?
No. A court-appointed expert under Article 373 assists the court itself, and officer-of-the-court status attaches specifically to that appointment.
When does a court-appointed expert's officer-of-the-court status begin and end?
It begins when the expert qualifies for the appointment and ends when final judgment is rendered in the case.
Why does the officer-of-the-court status matter for an appointed expert?
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the vLex (Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, 2026 Edition). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: court appointed expert louisianaexpert as officer of the courtlouisiana court expert dutiesla cpp article 373