A Colorado man who has insisted on his innocence for 30 years will get a new trial because the forensic analyst’s testimony in his trial is no longer supported by scientific evidence. In order for someone to offer an expert opinion in court, the judge must be...
pattern matching evidence
Why is discredited forensic science still being used as evidence?
In 2009, a committee of the prestigious National Research Council (NRC) published a report for Congress that shocked the entire criminal justice system. Congress had asked the NRC to evaluate the scientific underpinnings of commonly used forensic evidence and suggest...
Fatally flawed arson evidence means Tennessee man goes free
In February 1992, 24-year-old Lorie Lance died in a fire in Old Hickory, Tennessee. Her boyfriend, Claude Garrett, awoke to find his and Lorie’s living room on fire. He woke Lorie up and ran for the door, but Lorie suddenly turned and ran toward the back of the house....
Do jurors fall for the ‘CSI effect’?
Forensic science isn’t nearly as straightforward and foolproof as it seems on television crime shows like “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” Unfortunately, many jurors may not know that. Are they expecting results like those produced on the show? Can they disregard...
Top Biden science advisor wrote seminal report on forensic science
In 2016, the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology (PCAST) issued a report on the reliability of various forensic science techniques. The report was earth-shaking for the forensic science community. It concluded that there was insufficient...