In California, another bill involving a valiant attempt to prevent the strong correlation of prosecutorial misconduct (in over 800 cases, only less than a 2 handfusl have led to Bar sanctions against state prosecutors) and wrongful convictions was vetoed this week by Gov Brown. He has said that pros misc was unacceptable, but got cold feet when law enforcement agencies did their lobbying. Some DAs supporte the bill. He pawned his negative decision with oft-used legalistic phrase from the judicial toolbox. “Overbroad”
Gov Brown vetoes bills on better prosecution misconduct control. The gov wants to protect the DAs from tougher rules. http://blog.sfgate.com/crime/2014/09/29/brown-vetoes-bills-on-prosecution-misconduct-drones-oks-lower-crack-sentences/ …
Another Op-Ed on this subject:
CA: Jerry Brown Fails his Test http://bit.ly/10kKjYH
and
CA Assemblyman ‘angry’ as Brown vetoes prosecutor misconduct bill | SF Politics http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2014/09/29/ammiano-angry-brown-vetoes-prosecutor-misconduct-bill#.VCs5d926LGI.twitter …
and
Radley Balko, on his WashPost blog, THE WATCH, sums up all of this.
The Houston Crime lab seems to have a dual personality problem:
Apr 2014 More trouble for problem plagued Houston crime lab? – FOX 26 News | MyFoxHouston http://www.myfoxhouston.com/story/25126650/more-trouble-for-problem-plagued-houston-crime-lab#.VCrHcU4OGWE.twitter …
then this just shows up.
Sept 30 2014 Houston Forensic Science Center awarded $1.26 million grant. Everyone’s happy. http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/deer_park/news/houston-forensic-science-center-awarded-million-grant/article_6aad7023-209b-5460-9790-4614c8ba2f7d.html#.VCrHjq71uvQ.twitter … via @ScoopHouston
Other topics.
Brilliantly coordinated teamwork between police and the CSIs. Delayed crime lab testing = identification of dried spaghetti-os on spoon. Woman spent 47 days in jail claiming innocence http://www.policestateusa.com/2014/ashley-huff/ … and this.
No accountability http://wapo.st/1vq6IPG This includes stonewallers’ denials of culpability in #Forensics aided wrongful convictions.
A man wrongfully convicted and imprisoned attempting a civil suit for $$ reparations in Illinois gets the shaft from a trio of appellate judges. “In civil suit against cops + DA, 7th Circuit badgers Plantiff’s atty, did not ask def attorney a single difficult question.” http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/09/29/71906.htm … via
Can a dog be a forensic expert witness? Arson trial testimony on accelerant-sniffing dog. Rover got it “right” one out of three times at fire scenes. http://www.nhregister.com/general-news/20140929/new-haven-arson-trial-begins-with-testimony-on-accelerant-sniffing-dog …
A DA’s affair and Brady = dismissal of murder charges in 1989 cold case killing http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_26634185/san-jose-affair-spurs-dismissal-murder-charges-1989 …
