What is a "Perito Judicial" (Judicial Expert) in Spain?

The judicial expert or also known as forensic expert is a professional endowed with specialized and recognized knowledge, through her/his higher studies, who provides information or founded opinion to the courts of justice on the litigious points that are the subject of her/his opinion.

There are two types of experts, those appointed by the court and those proposed by one or both parties (and then accepted by the judge or the prosecutor), and both exert the same influence in the trial.

On the other hand, the expert evidence ("prueba pericial") is the one that arises from the opinion of the experts, who, as explained, are people called to report to the judge or court, by reason of their special knowledge and whenever such scientific, technical or practical opinion on disputed facts is necessary.