Why Illinois Should Abandon \u3cem\u3eFrye\u3c/em\u3e\u27s General Acceptance Standard for the Admission of Novel Scientific Evidence

This Note examines the standard for the admission of novel scientific evidence at trial in Illinois. After tracing the nationwide emergence, dominance, and current departure from Frye v. United State\u27s general acceptance standard, the Note focuses on the inherent problems and ambiguities involved in Frye\u27s application, and the problematic results that arise from using Frye. The future of Frye\u27s use in Illinois is examined in light of the conflict between Frye and the United States Supreme Court\u27s decision in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceutical, Inc. Stolfi concludes that Frye has outlived its usefulness in our high-speed, technologically advanced nation and that only through adoption of a Federal Rule of Evidence 702 or Daubert-based approach will Illinois ensure that the jury\u27s fact-finding role is protected