Tag Archives: Forensic science
Forensics: The timeline of battling junk forensics in the Texas courts – lessons learned – all from bitemarks
“Grits” runs us the story on the enormous effort undertaken in Texas to teach judges and prosecutors that bitemarks are the spawn of the alchemists and soothsayers among us. Grits for Breakfast legal blog The timeline of getting TX courts … Continue reading
Forensics: Texas becomes the first State to call bitemarks “junk science.”
As usual in these innocence cases, it took decades to overcome the inequities of flawed and exaggerated forensic experts. In this case, Steven Chaney is has been finally declared “actually innocent” and will receive $2.5 million for his decades in … Continue reading
Forensics: Another court bypasses recanted expert testimony and agrees with a DA being “confused” about what junk forensics means.
Lets say again, that almost any excuse can be used by some courts to deny that junk forensic testimony should be a threshold for a successful request for a new trial. https://www.propublica.org/article/judge-in-joe-bryan-case-rejects-defense-pleas-for-new-trial
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Tagged forensic examiner error, Forensic science, junk forensic science
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Forensics: 1985 trial using junk bitemark evidence not a problem to another appellate court
(Image: the concept of worms causing dental decay) Yet another confirmation that the “rule of law” used in courts of review supersedes unspeakable injustice of failed expert testimony used to convict. This story indicates the prosecutors philosophy of “once convicted, … Continue reading
Forensics: A good look at an expert’s advocacy. Admitted by some courts, but not all.
This story is about a MD who has a strange habit of giving opinion evidence in child abuse cases cloaked as sound science. Works for him. One court called him out on it. https://www.propublica.org/article/david-ayoub-an-anti-vaxxer-new-crusade
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Tagged expert opinion, forensic examiner error, Forensic science
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Faulty Forensics Put Me on Death Row – VICE Video: Documentaries, Films, News Videos
Another look at bitemark “experts” running amok. Most people are introduced to forensic science through TV and film, and because of this we have come to see forensic techniques as foolproof methods for solving crimes. But many forensic science techniques … Continue reading
Forensics: Over a million forensic hair cases need to be reviewed in Virgina
This story reveals that the obstacles and reluctance to review convictions aided by junk sciences can be overcome. State by state. Too bad the bitemarker bunch (http://www.abfo.org ) refuse to make good their promises to do this in Texas. A … Continue reading
Forensics: Harvard murder from 50 years ago. New DNA shows just how wrong initial investigators’ theories can be
This is is commonly what happens once DNA testing is done AFTER a conviction. One of the problems is the cost of post conviction testing that has to be borne by the Innocence Project and other innocence litigators. Donate … Continue reading
Forensics: As usual, lawyers influencing “rules” on decision-making truly are ignorant
Forensics, Justice, and the Case for Science-Based Decision Making The US Department of Justice ran this show. Simon Cole at the U of Irvine writes a clear expose’ (at the above link) on the details of a newly adopted series … Continue reading
Forensics: A look at DNA transfer at crime scenes says special training needed due to highly variable interpretations
This pay-for-view article at FSI Genetics should be made free-share for a certain period of time. Its focus on touch-DNA transfer interpretations suggests that the current opinions on DNA circumstances are suspect and standards are lacking. This is a very … Continue reading
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Tagged comparison confirmation bias, DNA profiling, Forensic science
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