Category Archives: Bad Forensic Science

Soon coming to the state you live in: Retesting of thousands of convictions helped by DNA

ADVANCES IN DNA TESTING COULD PUT THOUSANDS OF TEXAS CASES IN LEGAL LIMBO The above image is incredibly evocative. My blog on this came out September 21, 2015. thanks to the September 19, 2015 Grits for Breakfast blog from TX and … Continue reading

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More scapegoat activities in forensics: DAs who hate old DNA : a Medical Examiner with x-ray vision

NEWS BREAK: Another Forensic Scapegoat case. Last December, New York State Police forensic scientists were accused of cheating on a yet unused DNA software exam. The test maker had encouraged takers to confer during the test prep stage which included … Continue reading

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Fighting Forensic Junk Science taking place in Dallas Texas: Let’s talk science not quackery, promises and lies

In response to chilling mistakes and misdeeds involving the execution of Todd Willingham and the 25 year false incarceration of Michael Morton, things are changing regarding forensic experts in one US state. It is note worthy that nearly 50% (154 … Continue reading

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Junk Science in the US and the UK – Hands across the sea

  The blog starts on how scientific arguments about DNA (and everything else dealing with forensics) within the US courts are so heavily affected by legalisms which allow one state (in this newest case NJ) to accept the opinion of another state (NY … Continue reading

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Bitemark Evidence Proving to be Unreliable | National Law Journal

A bad month for the bite mark crew of the American Academy of Sciences and the NIST/DOJ National Commision on Forensic Science. http://m.nationallawjournal.com/module/alm/app/nlj.do#!/article/1751566393

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AP:Mississippi death row inmate returns to trial court to argue for vacating conviction – bitemarks

Besides new DNA from post-conviction testing, the MS Special Assistant Attorney General Jason L. Davis  says that “new” evidence showing bite marks are now discredited “science” should now be barred. He seemed confused about his own state’s crime lab’s DNA results … Continue reading

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A USC alum and faculty who is a “Dental Detective” – The Ostrow School of Dentistry

This article starts on the school’s Trodent Summer 2015 digital magazine on page 17.  

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Forensics: More judicial illiteracy about scientific principles

Somewhere there must be an appellate judge who understands something about reliability. The 7th US Circuit sure needs some help. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/08/04/federal-appeals-court-drug-dog-thats-barely-more-accurate-than-a-coin-flip-is-good-enough

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Update: White House Report on Forensics Science: “Eradicate” the Use of Bitemarks

  Update on the Update: More on this today (Wednesday July 22, 2015)  from Radley Balko at THE WATCH On Tuesday, July 21, the White House OSTP issued an oral presentation by: Jo Handelsman “Dr. Jo Handelsman is the Associate Director for … Continue reading

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Forensics: From the New York Legal Aid Society’s DNA UNIT – The latest and the best news

Connect with them @LegalAidNYC   A New York Trial Court precludes LCN and FST evidence after extensive Frye Hearing litigated by the Legal Aid Society’s DNA Unit (New York Law Journal)Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Mark Dwyer issued a written decision precluding … Continue reading

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