IDS has a job opening for a Regional Defender based in Durham or Wake County. The Office of Indigent Defense Services is seeking a qualified individual to work to advance our mission to safeguard individual liberty and the Constitution by equipping the North Carolina public defense community with the resources it needs to achieve fair …
Book Event with Chris Fabricant at Duke Law School
September 12, 2022 • 12:30 PM • Law School 3041 Duke Law School’s Novel Justice is a book event series sponsored by the Wilson Center for Science and Justice. The Center invites authors to discuss recently published criminal justice books and to engage in Q&A with faculty and students. Chris Fabricant is the Director of …
Cognitive Bias in Forensic Science and the Courtroom
Live webinar presented by James Williams, Dr. Jeff Kukucka, and Emily Coward Aug. 4, 2022, 12:30 pm 90 min of CLE credit anticipated Description: This program will examine several ways that race affects forensic evidence. Presenters will discuss the racist or colonial roots of some of the forensic sciences, how racism manifests in some current …
Cognitive Bias in Forensic Science and the CourtroomRead More
Cross-Examining Digital Forensic Experts Webinar
2022 IDS Forensic Science Education Series Live webinar presented by Lars Daniel July 21, 2022, 12:30 pm 90 min of CLE credit anticipated Description: This presentation will prepare attorneys to effectively cross-examine digital evidence experts. The presenter will provide recommendations about vetting experts, including information specific to the field of digital forensics. Using cross-examination scripts, …
2022 IDS Forensic Science Education Series: Challenging Cell Phone Location Evidence Webinar
Live webinar presented by Spencer McInvailleJuly 7, 2022, 12:30 pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated Description:Cell phone location evidence is used frequently by law enforcement to show a suspect’s location at the time of a crime. This program will provide attorneys and investigators with background information on cellular technology, carrier stored data, how experts obtain …
Hemp remains legal in NC
With Governor Cooper signing it into law yesterday Senate Bill 455 which permanently excludes hemp from the legal definition of marijuana under state law in NC, hemp’s future as a widely-available consumer product in our state seems secure. Under the new legislation, the previous requirement that the hemp be cultivated or possessed by a grower …
What to do with low-quality video evidence
Last week an article in The Assembly, The Shooter in the Video, came across my virtual desk. The article focused on the case of James Richardson, who was convicted of murder in Pitt County in 2011, and the work of his family, supporters and his post-conviction attorney Heather Rattelade to overturn his conviction. A key …
Expert assistance from Envista Forensics now available through Expert Services Project
We want court appointed attorneys to use experts, and we want using experts to be easier for attorneys. Access to qualified expert services is essential to the provision of indigent defense. To better equip the North Carolina public defense community with the resources it needs to achieve fair and just outcomes for clients, Indigent Defense …
Expert assistance from Envista Forensics now available through Expert Services ProjectRead More
Announcing Western Regional Lab Tour
The NC State Crime Laboratory, the 30th Judicial District Bar, and IDS are offering a tour of the Western Regional Lab in Edneyville on June 17, 2022 at 1:00 pm for criminal defense attorneys and investigators. One hour of CLE credit is anticipated for those who participate in the tour. If you would like to …
Webinar: Challenging eyewitness ID testimony and utilizing defense experts
Live webinar presented by Dr. Lori Van Wallendael and Attorney Greg Tosi May 5, 2022, 12:30 pm 90 min of CLE credit anticipated Description: This program will discuss current eyewitness identification research. Dr. Van Wallendael will explain what issues attorneys should look out for in an ID case that might indicate problems with the identification. …
Webinar: Challenging eyewitness ID testimony and utilizing defense expertsRead More
DNA Mixtures Webinar: Likelihood ratios and challenges to STRMix evidence
Live webinar presented by Dr. Maher “Max” Noureddine and Attorney Elizabeth Vasquez June 2, 2022, 12:30 pm 90 min of CLE credit anticipated Description:This presentation will provide in-depth information about likelihood ratios and probabilistic genotyping (PG) software used to interpret complex DNA mixtures. After a brief overview of the concepts of likelihood ratio and probabilistic …
DNA Mixtures Webinar: Likelihood ratios and challenges to STRMix evidenceRead More
Announcing Expert Services Project
We want court appointed attorneys to use experts, and we want using experts to be easier for attorneys. Access to qualified expert services is essential to the provision of indigent defense. To better equip the North Carolina public defense community with the resources it needs to achieve fair and just outcomes for clients, Indigent Defense …
Legal Aid Society of NY’s DNA Unit Presents Foundation of DNA Defense
Don’t miss out on a great free-to-attend webinar program offered Mar. 30 – Apr. 1, 2022. The Legal Aid Society of NY presents a DNA conference annually. This year’s focus is “Unpacking the 2021 NIST Report.” There will be three days of presentations on the latest information related to forensic DNA evidence. The speaker line-up …
Legal Aid Society of NY’s DNA Unit Presents Foundation of DNA DefenseRead More
Results from a Black-Box Study for Digital Forensic Examiners
In Feb. 2022, NIST published the results of a study that looked at outcomes of mock mobile and hard-drive examinations by digital forensic examiners. 394 individuals registered for the mobile test, and 77 participants completed the mobile case study. 450 individuals registered for the hard-drive test and 102 participants completed the hard drive case study. …
Results from a Black-Box Study for Digital Forensic ExaminersRead More
“You’re Wrong About” Podcast on Junk Science
Sarah Marshall and Josie Duffy Rice discuss the role of unreliable scientific evidence in the criminal justice system in the Feb. 20, 2022 edition of Marshall’s “You’re Wrong About” podcast. The episode is available here. The podcast looks at several types of evidence including blood spatter and bitemark evidence. While many attorneys are familiar with …

