Final answer:
The drawback of the Frye test is that it is applicable only to criminal cases. The Frye test is a standard used to determine the admissibility of scientific evidence in court, but it has been criticized for its narrow focus on general acceptance rather than the reliability and validity of the evidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The drawback of the Frye test is that it is applicable only to criminal cases. The Frye test, also known as the general acceptance test, is a standard used to determine the admissibility of scientific evidence in court. It requires that the scientific technique or principle being presented as evidence has gained general acceptance in the relevant scientific community.
Although the Frye test was widely used for many years, it has been criticized for its narrow focus on general acceptance rather than the reliability and validity of the scientific evidence. In 1993, the United States Supreme Court established a new standard for the admissibility of scientific evidence in federal courts with the Daubert ruling. The Daubert standard focuses on the reliability and validity of the scientific evidence, allowing for a more flexible approach to determining the admissibility of scientific evidence.
This limitation of the Frye test to criminal cases is a drawback because it means that it cannot be used in civil cases or other legal disputes that do not involve criminal charges. As a result, it may not provide a consistent and fair standard for the admissibility of scientific evidence in all types of legal cases.