Defenders should take note of State v. Koiyan, COA19-951, an April 7, 2020 decision where the NC Court of Appeals found that the trial court erred by admitting fingerprint testimony where the examiner “failed to demonstrate that he ‘applied the principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case,’ as required by Rule 702(a)(3).” …
Fingerprints
Webinar: Results of a black box study on the accuracy and reliability of palm print comparisons
RTI International will present this one hour webinar with speakers Heidi Eldridge and Christophe Champod.
OSAC’s Friction Ridge Subcommittee Develops Friction Ridge Process Map
The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science’s Friction Ridge Subcommittee has developed a friction ridge examination process map that describes the conventional process for latent print examination. The process map identifies key decision points in the fingerprint examination process, enables laboratory managers to better understand how their protocols compare with those of other laboratories, …
OSAC’s Friction Ridge Subcommittee Develops Friction Ridge Process MapRead More
Fingerprint analysis is high-stakes work — but it doesn’t take much to qualify as an expert
Forensic Trial Litigation CLE at Duke Law
Duke University School of Law is excited to offer a short course on forensic evidence litigation, with CLE credit pending approval, at Duke Law in Durham, North Carolina. The course is free and open to a small number of practicing criminal lawyers. Both prosecutors and defense attorneys are encouraged to attend. The course will be open …
Forensic Trial Litigation CLE at Duke Law
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 University School of Law is excited to offer a short course on forensic evidence litigation, with CLE credit pending approval, at Duke Law in …
Latent Fingerprint Essentials Webinar
Stetson University College of Law National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law will present a complimentary forensic science webinar on Monday, September 16, 2019 12:00-2:00 p.m. EST. Dr. William C. Thompson will present Latent Fingerprints Essentials, focusing on: An overview of the forensic science discipline Legal concerns and what attorneys should know about latent …
Latent Fingerprint Essentials Webinar
Stetson University College of Law National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law will present a complimentary forensic science webinar on Monday, September 16, 2019 12:00-2:00 p.m. EST. The recording of the webinar will be available here, two weeks after the program. Dr. William C. Thompson will present Latent Fingerprints Essentials, focusing on: An overview …
Fingerprints and Miscarriages of Justice: ‘Other’ Types of Error and A Post-Conviction Right to Database Searching
This July 2018 article by Simon Cole and Barry Scheck provides a systematic and comprehensive examination of “other” types of error in friction ridge analysis beyond erroneous identifications, including 40 publicly-exposed cases containing these errors. The article also calls for access to post-conviction database searching of fingerprint and other forensic databases.
Heidi Eldridge
DPS crime lab employee arrested for theft of ammunition and weapon accessories (AZ)
Petition to N.C. Court of Appeals
Sample petition for writ of certiorari regarding fingerprint evidence
Cook County Motion to Exclude Fingerprint Identification
2018 Motion to Exclude testimony about fingerprint “identification” because it is scientifically indefensible, will overstate the probative value of fingerprint evidence and unduly prejudice the Defense, and mislead the trier of fact.
Cook County Motion to Exclude Fingerprint IdentificationRead More
State v. Rudolph
Northern District of Alabama (Daubert jurisdiction) Motion to Exclude Testimony of Forensic Fingerprint Examiner – includes a comprehensive history of what scientific validation has and has not been completed for this field. Critiques the lack of uniform standards. Critiques analysis of small or distorted latent prints. Affidavit of Simon Cole – This expert in the field of …
State v. Zajac
District Court for the District of Utah, Central Division Zajac Order – granted in part and denied in part the Defendant’s motion to exclude fingerprint evidence. Important example of how the language used by the fingerprint examiner can be limited. Memo in Support of Defendant’s Motion to Exclude Fingerprint Evidence