Free webinar offered by NC Indigent Defense Services and the Mecklenburg Public Defender’s Office
Using the NAS Report and PCAST Report at trial to challenge unreliable forensic methodsRead More
Resources
Whiskey in the Courtroom 8: Evolving Trends in Forensic Science – Firearms Evidence
In person and live webcast, Sponsored by Indigent Defense Services, the Duke Law Center for Criminal Justice and Professional Responsibility, and the Wilson Center for Science and Justice
Whiskey in the Courtroom 8: Evolving Trends in Forensic Science – Firearms EvidenceRead More
Statement of the TX Forensic Science Commission Regarding “Alternate Firearms Opinion Terminology”
Dec. 2021 statement Addressing a USDOJ document that instructs firearms examiners to avoid using terminology such as the weapon “could have fired” the bullets or cartridge cases, “consistent with” or “could not be excluded” as having fired the bullets or cartridge cases.
State v. Thomas, 2021 NCCOA-402
COA held that trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the testimonyof the State’s GSR expert because he followed the State Crime Lab’s procedures asrequired to meet Rule 702(a)’s reliability requirement where defendant made statement upon GSR collection that he had been asleep during the 5+ hour period between shooting and collection.
State v. Joyner, 2021-NCCOA-684 (unpub)
Detective testified about cell phone tower location and determined direction of tower based on records. COA held Detective’s testimony was limited to illustrating and interpreting the admitted cell phone records, therefore it did not require scientific or other specialized knowledge and was not expert testimony.
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.
State v. Gibbs (unpub)(2021)
NCSCL drug chemistry analyst Jennifer West testified about whether fentanyl was an opiate or opioid. Trial court erred in admitting West’s testimony because she lacked training on the issue of whether fentanyl was an opiate or opioid.
New England Seminar in Forensic Sciences
Week-long training program on death investigation.
Overturned Arson Convictions
John Lentini compiled case information on these wrongful convictions based on questionable laboratory analysis.
2022 Firearm and Toolmarks Policy & Practice Forum
4-day no-cost virtual program offered by FTCoE and NIJ
Webinar – Litigating ShotSpotter Evidence: The Science and the Law
Free Webinar offered by NACDL. Presenter: Brendan Max
Webinar – Litigating ShotSpotter Evidence: The Science and the LawRead More
Webinar – When Google Searches for You: Challenging Geofence Warrants
Free Webinar offered by NACDL. Presenters: Michael Price, Laura Koenig, Spencer McInvaille
Webinar – When Google Searches for You: Challenging Geofence WarrantsRead More
Cognitive biases in the peer review of bullet and cartridge case comparison casework: A field study
Research study on bullet and cartridge case comparison finding the odds of disagreement between examiners about the evidential strength of a comparison were approximately five times larger in the blind than in the non-blind procedure, with disagreement about 42.3% and 12.5% of the proposed conclusions, respectively. Also, the odds that their proposed conclusion was reported …
Natalie Novick Brown, Evaluating Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in the Forensic Context: A Manual for Mental Health Practice
Webinar: Bodily Injury
Free to attend live webinar