Author Archives: csidds

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About csidds

Dr. Michael Bowers is a long time forensic consultant in the US and international court systems.

NY Times: “DNA Analysis Exposes an Inexact Forensic Science” + Bitemark Cases

For over 2 decades, the US press has used “inexact” in writing about certain forensic methods which are used to convict criminal defendants. Bitemark experts included. Here is the latest from the New York Times. It uses the debunked FBI’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad Forensic Science, criminal justice, Forensic Science, forensic science reform | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Comments on the White House 2014 report on “Strengthening Forensic Science”

Opinions from a forensic examiner. This material contains excerpts from the WH 2014 Forensic Science Report .  My comments (in bold) are added in certain sections. The Report excerpts are in italics. See the full report here. =========================================== EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF … Continue reading →

Posted in ABFO, Bitemarks, criminal justice, Forensic Science, forensic science reform, National FOrensic Science Commission | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Bitemark Case Law: The Judicial failure by accepting bitemark experts as “qualified to identify” defendants

“Bitemark Identification” acceptance stems from this list of appellate cases starting in 1975 (Marx). This is a short list of the seminal cases (allowing the jury of decide the evidence declared to be science) that flowed from this first appellate … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitemarks, forensic science reform, junk forensic science, National FOrensic Science Commission | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Death sentences: A trail of dubious contributions to justice: questionable and in some cases, erroneous bitemark opinions.

I have reported on this subject before, as the continued acceptance of the bitemark id “pseudoscience” in US courts still allows this prejudicial type of prosecutorial expert opinion to be considered “relevant evidence.” Continuing on this topic, my experience as a defense … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitemarks, criminal justice, exoneration, Forensic Science, forensic testimony, Ray Krone bitemark case, William Richards Exoneration Case, wrongful convictions | 2 Comments

Forensic Focus: Slimy attacks on legal defense professionals continues, bogus DNA reports in DEL, and more….

Political attacks on criminal defense professionals is going viral. The GOP and others, some notable and others ridiculous, take license with the truth about what is really “justice.” Apparently their own version is the only legitimate one (the scales tipped … Continue reading →

Posted in criminal justice, police crime labs, prosecutorial misconduct | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ray Krone’s Exoneration from bitemark evidence: THE INSIDE STORY @csidds

Photo by: Heidi Huber/AP This picture has Ray Krone ( left) immediately after his release from AZ prison in 2000. Part of his story is below, which develops the persona of the Prosecutor Noel Levy who put Ray on  death … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, Bitemarks, Exoneration costs, junk forensic science, Ray Krone bitemark case, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Based on a notorius bitemark case: CA legislation plans to reject use of junk and outdated forensics in court @csidds

Originally posted on FORENSICS and LAW in FOCUS @ CSIDDS | News and Trends:
Radley Balko at the Washington Post’s “The Watch” announces California Senate Bill (SB1048) intent to direct the courts to consider scientific progress and reject junk opinions of debunked…

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Teaching Science to Judges: Now THAT’S Gonna be Tough. Most studied business @csidds | Forensics in Focus : March 24, 2014

LEAD LINE: Criminal courts must evolve with science. Now THAT’s gonna be tough. Most judges studied business.   Judges do have “colleges” but all are short courses certainly not involving much of anything scientific. They should be called “law colleges.” Flawed … Continue reading →

Posted in criminal justice, expert testimony, Forensic Science, forensic testimony, police crime labs | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A brilliant cautionary tale on Fingerprints and their Scientific Uncertainty | The AAFS/ABFO dentists should read this | @csidds

  Fingerprints and a “bitemark” used to convict Bill Richards in 1997 in California.   The partnerships between the AAFS and police sciences are very strong and professionally intertwined in the US criminal justice system. The organization was originally founded by … Continue reading →

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Based on a notorius bitemark case: CA legislation plans to reject use of junk and outdated forensics in court @csidds

Radley Balko at the Washington Post’s “The Watch” announces California Senate Bill (SB1048) intent to direct the courts to consider scientific progress and reject junk opinions of debunked forensic methods and prosecutorial bias favoring “finality of verdicts.” He speaks to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment