The American Association for the Advancement of Science has announced a novel programme that will provide independent scientific expertise to US federal judges hearing complex technical cases. The Court-Appointed Scientific Experts scheme will proceed as a five-year demonstration project. Evidence involving complex scientific, medical and technical issues is becoming more prevalent in litigation, so "judges increasingly need the assistance of independent experts who can help courts resolve these cases in a principled manner", according to the project director, Dr Mark S. Frankel.