Category Archives: expert testimony

More on what damage junk forensic science brings society

After 36 years…… http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/dc-man-imprisoned-by-flawed-fbi-forensic-evidence-exonerated/2015/05/23/ed382f70-00c6-11e5-8b6c-0dcce21e223d_story.html

Posted in Bad Forensic Science, Civil rights, costs of wrongful convictions, Crime, criminal justice, CSI, DNA profiling, exoneration, Exoneration costs, expert testimony, Forensic Science, forensic science misconduct, forensic testimony, junk forensic science, National FOrensic Science Commission, police crime labs, wrongful convictions | 1 Comment

Forensics: Wisc payout of $6.5M on wrongful conviction considered a ‘bargain” by its defense lawyer.

Wyoming crime lab tech cooks his own credentials San Francisco law enforcement reeling over multiple scandals Forensic science only offers probabilities, not guarantees that justice will be served How a defense pathology expert can get smeared in court by getting … Continue reading

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The myth of government-run crime lab impartiality is revealed

Former crime lab employee gets the boot for being a defense expert outside his state, sues the county government, its DA and police chief. So much for impartiality myth of police run forensic labs. The courts expect the “whole truth” from … Continue reading

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Manhattan DA Melissa Mourges redacts 2009 NAS Forensic Report to mislead Frye hearing judge

Following with my previous blog’s theme of prosecutorial misconduct, here is a recent standout in the NYC courts’ process of determining science-affirmed expert testimony versus ‘forensic’ claptrap of a baser kind. This story exposes how lawyers bend facts to suit their … Continue reading

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New Junk Forensic Science comes your way from Alabama

Nothing says ‘forensic science’ better that the state of Alabama. Its evidentiary statutes and case law (stare decisis) contains convictions later overturned by DNA. And, its District Attorneys (Hi there, Steve Marshall, from Marshall County, ALA) allow forensic experts to testify like … Continue reading

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The path forward on bite mark matching — and the rearview mirror #AAFS2015

This is the final article of the Washington Post’s Radley Balko’s 4 part series on forensic science reform and the personalities and organizations (legal advocates and forensic groups) involved on both sides of the discussion. The first three articles are … Continue reading

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Forensics: Costs of forensic expert witnesses in a murder trial with the defendant facing the death penalty.

Costs of forensic expert witnesses in a murder trial with the defendant facing the death penalty. Pathologist = $300/hr. Psychiatrist = $500/hr. “Mitigation specialist” = $100/hr. All have caps on maximum amount allowed. Ballistics: OC Crime Lab Goes 3D – … Continue reading

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How not to behave in court as an expert witness

This story is about how overly aggressive conclusions of guilt (the province of the jury) in forensic science presentations in criminal can make one look like a biased “forensic expert.” https://www.themarshallproject.org/2014/12/23/powerpoint-justice

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Slap Shot At Over Blown Forensic Experts

Forensic Science Is Not CSI, in Ferguson or Anywhere Else – HuffPost Politics http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/6356740?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=Politics&partner=skygrid

Posted in Brown shooting evidence, criminal justice, expert testimony, Forensic Science, forensic testimony | Tagged | 1 Comment

Judge tosses out two types of DNA evidence used regularly in criminal cases

Judge tosses out two types of DNA evidence used regularly in criminal cases – Forensics in Focus EXCLUSIVE: Justice Mark Dwyer has ditched the results of low copy number DNA testing and Forensic Statistical Tool from the cases of Andrew … Continue reading

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