The legal status of an expert and a specialist in the criminal proceedings

By case study of the current legal acts the article considers the legal status of experts and specialists as the two main parties of the criminal proceedings, who apply special knowledge of the criminal justice process. The author identifies the differences in the form of application of special knowledge by an expert and a specialist, as well as the difference between the "expert opinion " and "professional judgment". The author proposes to formalize in the legislation the measures that will support the readiness of experts to carry out procedural duties at a high level.