Another glimpse at how the Fed ignores scientific proofs – Arson and the ATF

Posted on August 3, 2017 by csidds

Image of a chemical fire being tested in a lab

Here is a long-standing federal agency, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, basking in their scientifically outdated historical about arson caused fires. They use a “process of elimination” theory of criminal actions. Others call it old fashioned and biased.

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Experts-cast-doubt-on-ATF-s-arson-finding-in-West-11725989.php

One must realize that ATF provides training modules for international. state and local law enforcement and prosecutors. All of this is reminiscent of the FBI’s hair matching bunch disseminated their scientifically rejected methods for decades. Here’s some links.

https://www.atf.gov/careers/arson-explosives-training-programs

https://www.atf.gov/arson/atf-certified-fire-investigator-school

https://www.atf.gov/careers/learning-and-training

https://www.atf.gov/news/pr/atf-conduct-international-fire-and-explosive-training

https://www.atf.gov/explosives/accelerant-and-explosives-detection-canines

https://www.atf.gov/resource-center/fact-sheet/fact-sheet-national-center-explosives-training-and-research

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Reversal of Conviction started Statute of Limitations for Federal Wrongful Claim?

Posted on July 31, 2017 by csidds

Image result for unjust prosecution

Sent back for a new trial after being released from prison because of prosecutorial  misconduct, the defendant gets barred from suing the prosecutor and cops over his original incarceration.

Judge dismisses wrongful imprisonment suit against former Blount County prosecutor and detective _ News _ thedailytimes

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Fours years of suspicion and interrogations, film-maker excluded by better DNA Testing

Posted on July 27, 2017 by csidds

Image result for idaho falls police logo

Here is the 48 Hours look at Michael Usry Carol Dodge as having become prime suspects in a cold murder case from Idaho. Ancestry.com had something to do with it, of course. 

Here is what just came out from the Idaho police about Usry and Dodge.

Press Release_DNA Report Clears Usry Family of Involvement in Angie Dodge Case_2

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5 years later. Lynn Peavey field testing a joke. Ex CIA couple get visited by SWAT.

Posted on July 26, 2017 by csidds

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A federal appellate panel goes positive for a prior dismissed civil suit by this finest example of why police should not do their own forensic testing let alone manage forensic evidence. .

Appeals court rages against police bumbling and lie filled drug raid. 

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Roundup of Science vs Trumpism over the Last 6 Months

Posted on July 26, 2017 by csidds

Image result for polluted water

This is a pretty good short look. It covers:

  • Running science out of his administration.
  • Health and environment
  • Closing the public’s door to scientific data.

It starts with Trump/Sessions dumping the National Commission on Forensic Science.

Assaulting science

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Unadulterated Forensic Balderdash: Ventriloquism and Human DNA

Posted on July 25, 2017 by csidds

 

Image result for coast guard

From the get-go, this is beyond the pale of anything remotely related to a scientific proof.

“Every person’s voice is unique, just like your fingerprint and DNA, so we are on our way to converting voice to kind of like a barcode to identify every human,” said Singh, who has been studying voice for decades. “Basically, we are trying to sketch the entire persona of a human and their environment.”

US Coast Guard gets chumped

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” Forensic foibles” examined in light of generally uncritical appellate judicial review

Posted on July 23, 2017 by csidds

 

Image result for bullet crime scene 

Stare Decisis Is Not Scientific
A CAUTIONARY TALE FROM TWO CASES

[ Higher courts’ lack of abilities to be scientifically rigorous]…” serves as a road sign as to both where danger lurks should an uncritical court wish to avoid difficult questions, and the perils of not being aggressive in pursuing forensic foibles.”

This 3 pager is largely about exaggerated claims of 100% identification used in the police forensic ‘science’ culture and legal gambits that ignore the issues of reliability, etc.

Kennedy- Science and Technology Lawyer

Roderick Kennedy (brazolargo@ me.com) is a retired trial and appellate judge. He is a fellow in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and professional member of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (United Kingdom). Judge Kennedy has taught
forensic evidence as an adjunct at the University of New Mexico School of Law, and currently advises scientists and lawyers on matters pertaining to expert witness practice and technical litigation.

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Imwinkelried on Science and Law : Paving the Way for Courts About Junk Forensics

Posted on July 20, 2017 by csidds

Image result for new laws

I do not like to use “junk” regarding flawed forensics. Let’s say that “invalidated” forensics is more professional and is easier on the reader. Nevertheless, semantics will not cure State criminal courts from fumbling badly when inmates appeal the misleading and down right incorrect opinions experts bring into trials resulting in their convictions.

Ed Imwrinkelried (Renowned law prof on Science and Law) lays it all out in this open access paper: He does have some good things to say about California and Texas statutes on “junk science.”

REVISING STATE POST-CONVICTION RELIEF STATUTES TO
COVER CONVICTIONS RESTING ON SUBSEQUENTLY
INVALIDATED EXPERT TESTIMONY

Imwinkelried

 

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Judges Training Empowers Judiciary to Understand Forensic Sciences and Methods

Posted on July 19, 2017 by csidds

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Scientific ‘critical thinking’ is the prominent theme of this recent 9th Circuit training symposium.

The title is: SKEPTICISM of Forensic Methods Urged at Ninth Circuit Conference

UCLA Law School Dean Jennifer Mnookin says……

“Faulty forensic science is the second most frequently found contributing cause [of DNA exonerations], second only to eyewitness identifications that turn out to be erroneous,” she said.

Los Angeles Public Defender Jennifer Friedman also contributed regarding forensic evaluations by Obama’s President’s Council on Science and Technology’s (PCAST) Nov 2017 look at upgrades in the forensic disciplines. :

“It was not intended to tell the people in this room how to decide cases, but to discuss and explain the intersection of scientific validity and legal reliability.”

A final speaker said, “It’s going to take time.”

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When Science turned Criminal Investigating on it’s Head – Jeffreys and DNA

Posted on July 18, 2017 by csidds

Image result for alec jeffreys

DNA EVIDENCE FREES THE INNOCENT

A time-line look at how science brought independent verification to police ‘science.’ From that came wrongful convictions showing up decades of police and prosecutorial infallibility.

http://reason.com/archives/2017/07/18/dna-evidence-frees-the-innocen

In another glowing example of infallible arrogance, USDOJ boss Jeff Sessions thinks confiscation of property and money from pre-trial suspects doesn’t need the judicial process. 

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