THE COMMITTEE OF COURT PHYSICIANS OF THE WEST GERMAN STATE OF NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA IS IN CHARGE OF EXAMINING ALL PSYCHIATRIC-NEUROLOGICAL EXPERT REPORTS IN THE FIELD OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. IN 1976 THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERED 1,001 REPORTS, REJECTING 152. THE MOST IMPORTANT REASONS FOR REJECTION INCLUDED (1) UNCLEAR PASSAGES AND LACK OF SUPPORTING MATERIALS (30 PERCENT OF THE REJECTIONS), (2) FAULTY CONCLUSIONS (26 PERCENT OF THE REJECTIONS), (3) INSUFFICIENT MEDICAL EVIDENCE (24 PERCENT), AND (4) BLATANT ERRORS IN STYLE AND EXPRESSION (12.5 PERCENT). TWO TYPES OF REPORTS WERE REJECTED WITH PARTICULAR FREQUENCY: THOSE IN WHICH PARTICULAR PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOANALYTICAL THEORIES WERE APPLIED AND THOSE IN WHICH SHOPLIFTERS WERE PRONOUNCED AS LEGALLY NOT RESPONSIBLE ON THE ASSUMPTION OF CLEPTOMANIA. THE ANALYSIS OF MANY PARTICULAR EXAMPLES INDICATES THAT THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE AS AN ASSISTANT TO THE JUDGES' DECISION IS UNNECCESSARY SINCE THE METHOLOGICAL SHORTCOMINGS IN THE EXPERT REPORTS DISCOVERED BY THE COMMITTEE WOULD ALSO HAVE BEEN OBVIOUS TO THE COURT, THE CRITICISM OF THE COMMITTEE (ESPECIALLY IN THE SHOPLIFTING CASES) IS BIASED, AND IF THE COMMITTEE REJECTS A REPORT THE JUDGE IS NONE THE WISER FOR HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO OPPOSING EXPERT TESTIMONIES. THE ARTICLE INCLUDES REFERENCES AND IS FOLLOWED BY A CRITICISM OF ITS METHOD OF ANALYZING THE DOCUMENTS. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)