Originally posted on North Carolina Criminal Law, A UNC School of Government blog I mentioned in a recent News Roundup that the U.S. Supreme Court granted review in Smith v. Arizona. The case tees up a question that has been lingering since at least 2012: Does the Confrontation Clause permit the admission of substitute forensic analyst testimony? This …
Experts
Virtual Workshop Series: Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals
Free to attend virtual workshop offered by FTCOE and NC State University
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Virtual Workshop Series: Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals
North Carolina State University (NCSU) and the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) will host a two-part virtual workshop series on the Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals. This workshop series will discuss topics surrounding qualifications of expert witnesses in forensic disciplines under both the Daubert and the Frye standards. Part I of this …
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Neuropsychology of Brain Injury in Criminal Contexts – What Attorneys Need to Know
Live webinar presented by Dr. Shawn AchesonAugust 3, 2023, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated This workshop will provide an overview of the kind of work that neuropsychologists do, how they do it, and how it may be helpful to criminal defense attorneys. The bulk of this presentation will focus on brain injury and how …
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FTCOE and NCSU Virtual Workshop: Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals
Full day free-to-attend virtual workshop offered by FTCOE and NCSU
Private Investigator Directory added to IDS website
Are you looking for an investigator who can find and interview witnesses, review evidence, gather and document additional evidence, examine the crime scene and its investigation, and conduct background checks on witnesses? IDS has created a directory of licensed private investigators who are available to assist on your criminal cases. Compiling information on investigators who …
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The Mercy Workers
The Marshall Project published a feature on mitigation specialists and their work, entitled The Mercy Workers. For attorneys familiar with the valuable work of mitigation specialists documenting childhood traumas, family dynamics, and systemic failures that shape the lives of criminal defendants, the feature will reinforce the importance of this type of expert assistance. For attorneys …
“Is This Research Credible?”: A New FIU Forensic Library Video
The Florida International University Research Forensic Library has released a new video: “Is This Research Credible?” The short video provides four easy to follow steps on how to evaluate the credibility of research, from articles to testimonies. Attorneys may find the tips helpful when reviewing research that an expert has relied upon. You can access the video here: The Research Forensic …
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Use of Rap Lyrics at Trial
Whether the prosecution can use rap lyrics as evidence of a defendant’s guilt comes up regularly in criminal cases. Researchers have found evidence of rap lyrics being introduced in hundreds of criminal cases nationwide. In North Carolina, the use of rap lyrics was upheld in the unpublished Court of Appeals decision, State v. Allen, NC …
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 …
ANALYSIS: Say Goodbye to ‘Daubert Motion’, Hello to New Rule 702 (1)
Using the NAS Report and PCAST Report at trial to challenge unreliable forensic methods
Free webinar offered by NC Indigent Defense Services and the Mecklenburg Public Defender’s Office
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Flawed forensics in criminal trials overlooked in push to reform expert witness rules
Clark v. Clark, 2021-NCCOA-653
Plaintiff argued Derek Ellington was not qualified as a digital expert. COA held Ellington testified as a lay witness, not an expert, because he testified to what he saw or experienced in making a forensic copy and demonstrating the defendant did not send the photos to others.
Forensic Trial Litigation CLE at Duke Law
February 11 (1 pm to 5 pm) and February 12 (all day – 9 am to 5 pm). Forensic evidence, from DNA to fingerprints to ballistics, has never been more important in criminal cases. Actually litigating scientific evidence in the courtroom can be challenging and requires some specialized skills. Duke Law is excited to offer …