[10/16/2014 Second update: NCDD Regent Don Ramsell has taken down his ad hominem attack, but the error on the NCDD website and its quiz still exists. Now in a bizarre attempt to re-frame the quiz, he explains what I can only assume that he meant for the quiz to mean (as a trained lawyer, he […]
More information on the Cameron Todd Willingham Case
To inspire fierce and vitriolic debate in the legal-forensic community, all one has to do is to mention the name Cameron Todd Willingham. We have blogged on the case and other arson cases before: Fire Whisperers-the Story of Bad Arson Investigation In full disclosure this office and myself personally am litigating a “bad arson science […]
The Ethics of CLE Agenda: A Jury Argument or a Science Argument
The Ethics of CLE Agenda: A Jury Argument or a Science Argument Isn’t the above so true? The concept also holds true when it comes of defense attorneys and their organizations putting on Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs. It is a small part of the reason that I stopped speaking at lawyer CLE programs. Too […]
AlcoPro doesn’t want breath test devices in the hands of a skeptical attorneys
AlcoPro, Inc. is a distributor of portable breath test devices commonly referred to as PBTs. Law enforcement officers in many states use these devices on the side of the road to help determine if someone is possibly under the influence of alcohol. One of the more popular PBTs that they sell is the Alco-Sensor FST manufactured by Intoximeters, Inc. The […]
“They are merely technicians”-the myth of Gas Chromatography analysis
“They are merely technicians”-the myth of Gas Chromatography analysis Language is important in science and in law. If you are a prosecutor, you would want to call those who preform the GC-FID analysis for EtOH “techs” because “techs” don’t think, they just do. It must be emphasized that the simple fact is these people are […]
The American Chemical Society Driving Under the Influence of Drugs Course
Dear attorney friends and colleagues, What have you done to future-proof your DUI practice? The times are changing. Drug-related DUI enforcement is the way of the future. In a short time, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID) cases will start to outnumber DUI ethanol cases. If your knowledge isn’t greater and your experience is […]
Conviction Integrity Unit- A good idea
Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins has done something unusual with his tenure as being District Attorney. In 2007, he established a Conviction Integrity Unit. He has set aside a portion of his budget and human resources to look over old cases and determine through the use of DNA whether or not the convictions are […]
Ethical Competence versus Technical Competence: Why trying your best doesn’t cut it
Technical Competence versus Ethical Competence: Why trying your best doesn’t cut it Don’t simply be technically competent. Have ethical competence. This blog has featured acts of complete ethical failure in various crime laboratories. It is time that this blog also begin to feature another crucial part of the justice system: the criminal defense trial […]
The ACS Hands-on Forensic Chromatography Class
The ACS Hands-on Forensic Chromatography Class There was a dream and the dream could best be stated thusly: Develop an expertise in that which interests you. learn, lean, learn, then do something totally counter-intuitive…. give away your knowledge for free to everyone and anyone who will listen. Become the proverbial Johnny Appleseed. People will love […]
“Failed Evidence” – A must read for all interested in making our justice system better
One of the recurring themes of this blog is the consistent call for meaningful changes in the criminal justice system. TheTruthAboutForensicScience.com bloggers Justin McShane and Josh Lee having been highlighting areas of the criminal justice system that desperately need change for several years now. We are not the only ones. In the book “Failed Evidence: […]
Ethical and non-ethical challenges to expert witnesses
[Editor’s note: One of the non-substantive attacks that certain prosecutor’s use is to try to paint the expert called by the defense as a “hired gun” or a “whore” who will say anything for money. This is a regrettable tactic that has no substantive merit to the case itself and does little to promote the […]
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