Warrantless use of a cell-site simulator was a Fourth Amendment search, but the right to be free from such searches was not clearly established at the time and the officers were entitled to qualified immunity
Resources
Free NC Public Defender/PAC DWI Seminar
On November 13 at the Durham County Courthouse, the National College for DUI Defense and IDS are offering a DWI-focused CLE at no cost to public defenders and private appointed counsel. This is an opportunity to learn from attorneys who focus on DWI defense and to sharpen the skills you use in your cases—from understanding …
McCrory v. Lovelace, 2026
Decision granting writ of habeas corpus and ordering new trial in Mississippi case involving recanted bitemark evidence. AEDPA analysis finding that the Alabama state courts, in denying relief, unreasonably applied the federal Due Process Clause, which entitles a person to a trial that is fundamentally fair and free of unreliable and prejudicial scientific evidence.
State v. Denton (GA) 2026
Nolle Prosequi order exonerating Sheila Denton.
The Forensic Evidence Table
Series of articles about the intersections of forensic science, surveillance technology, AI, and the criminal legal system with the goal of developing clearer ways of seeing the systems underneath them: what gets collected, how evidence is transformed, what gets preserved, where scientific and technical limits lie, and what happens to constitutional rights when those systems …
Webinar: Primer – Cell Phone Location Evidence in Call Detail Records
Live webinar presented by Anthony Monaghan, JD and Eric GrabskiDec. 3, 2026, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated Cell phone location evidence is frequently used to place a defendant at or near a particular location, so understanding what those records actually establish is critical to effectively challenging the evidence. The session will explain how law …
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Webinar: Primer – Forensic Evidence in Sex Offense Cases
Live webinar presented by Jason St. Aubin, JDNov. 5, 2026, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated Forensic evidence can play a powerful role in sex offense prosecutions and evaluating the forensic science evidence is essential to effective representation. This practical primer will introduce defense attorneys and team members to the forensic evidence commonly encountered in …
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Webinar: Primer – Forensic Evidence in DWI Cases
Live webinar presented by Barbara Bathke, JD and Ivana Brown, JDOct. 1, 2026, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated Forensic evidence can be the centerpiece of a DWI prosecution—but understanding what the laboratory results actually mean is critical to effectively challenging that evidence. This practical primer will introduce defense attorneys to the forensic science commonly …
Chatrie and What Happens Next
LOCATION: LIVE Webinar via ZoomDATE: Thursday, September 10, 2026COST: FREE, Registration RequiredTIME: 2:00 pm ETCLE CREDIT: not available The Supreme Court held in Chatrie that the government’s use of a “geofence warrant” to obtain Google location history was a Fourth Amendment Search, and that people have a privacy interest in their cell phone location history–even when it’s stored by a third …
HelixCross
Forensic DNA Expert Cross-Examination Training – open-access software available for state’s experts to practice being cross-examined by defense attorneys using AI.
State of Connecticut v. Sellars (2026)
Case involving hearing of an admissibility challenge to GSR evidence where the defense argued that the evolution of the standards established and defined by ASTM International showed the methodology employed by the analyst was no longer well established or aligned with the latest developments in those international standards. Appellate Court held that trial court erred …
What the Flock? How ALPR Surveillance Works, How It’s Abused, and How to Challenge It
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2026 Time: 3:00–4:30 p.m. ET Location: Online | No CLE credit Offered at no cost by NACDL to their members and non-members Automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) are tracking vehicles across the country—collecting location data, creating detailed records of people’s movements, and increasingly becoming part of criminal investigations. But how does …
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Roadside Intelligence: Emerging Drug Trends & Impaired Driving
Free to attend webinar series offered by Center for Forensic Science Research and Education Drug-impaired driving continues to challenge law enforcement as the drug landscape becomes increasingly complex. Unlike alcohol impairment, the effects of drugs, and particularly combinations of drugs, can vary considerably, making roadside detection and investigation more difficult. Evolving patterns of drug use …
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In Re Four Applications for Search Warrants Seeking Information Associated With Particular Cellular Towers a/k/a Tower-Dump Warrants (2026)
Federal court in Mississippi held that cell phone “tower dumps” are per se unconstitutional general warrants.
Parity in Practice: The Defender’s Duty to Ethically Use AI
NACDL white paper finding that competent, ethical use of AI is now part of a defender’s professional duty. The paper provides roadmap for how to verify AI output, protect client confidentiality, vet vendors, and build an office policy. It includes a model policy for defender offices or firms.
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