Who has the highest level of independence when designing test cases?

Testers or Quality Assurance (QA) professionals typically have the highest level of independence when designing test cases. They are responsible for understanding the requirements and specifications of the software and can create test cases based on their expertise and experience. This independence allows them to identify potential issues and ensure comprehensive test coverage without being overly influenced by developers. However, collaboration with developers and stakeholders is still essential to align on objectives and expectations.