The importance of t0 in forensic chromatography

The importance of t0 in forensic chromatography

On April 3, 2012, in Chemistry, Equipment, Ethics, Ethics: Scientist, GC-FID & GC/MS, In The Courtroom, Laboratory Procedure, by Justin J. McShane

If you are bored and want to have a little fun, call up your local crime laboratory, ask for someone who preforms their chromatography (it doesn’t matter if it is liquid chromatography or gas chromatography). When you get that person ask them a simple question: What’s the t0 (pronounced “t subzero”) for your method that […]

Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: Issues in Explosive Residue Analysis

Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: Issues in Explosive Residue Analysis

On March 29, 2012, in Explosive Residue, Trace Evidence, by Justin J. McShane

Issues in Explosives Residue Analysis A Primer for the Bar Frederic Whitehurst, Ph.D.[1] [Editors Note: This is a multi-part series deigned to educate the defense bar on important issues concerning explosive and explosive residue investigations] Part 1: Introduction Part 2: Back to the Basics: Was it the result of an explosive device in the first […]

Why per se Driving Under the Influence of Drug Based Prosecution is Not Scientific and How Probation Violations for Marijuana Use May Be Wrong

Why per se Driving Under the Influence of Drug Based Prosecution is Not Scientific and How Probation Violations for Marijuana Use May Be Wrong

On March 13, 2012, in Chemistry, Equipment, Ethics, Ethics: Scientist, Identification, In The Courtroom, Laboratory Procedure, Pharmacology, by Justin J. McShane

I cannot imagine that a single rational and sane person cares for drug impaired drivers to be on the road among us driving what amounts to a guided missile weighing about 3,000 to 5,500 pounds or more. As has been shown time and again, a drug intoxicated driver can be a weapon of mass destruction. […]

Score one for Science: The DRE program is found to be unreliable and not admissible

Score one for Science: The DRE program is found to be unreliable and not admissible

On March 8, 2012, in Ethics, Ethics: Lawyer, Ethics: Scientist, In The Courtroom, Pharmacology, by Justin J. McShane

As I have blogged before DUID cases should be very difficult to prosecute due to the pharmacological differences among us. In this six part post we started to explore all of this: Part 1. Intro­duc­tion Part 2. Phar­ma­co­ki­net­ics Part 3. Phar­ma­co­dy­nam­ics Part 4. Bioavail­abilty Part 5. “Free ver­sus Bound Drug“ Part 6. Elu­ci­dat­ing Phar­ma­co­dy­namic Effect […]

Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: Of moos and clucks-the myth of FTIR identification

Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: Of moos and clucks-the myth of FTIR identification

On March 8, 2012, in Chemistry, Contextual Bias, Equipment, Ethics, Ethics: Scientist, Identification, In The Courtroom, Infrared Spectroscopy, Solid Drug Dose, by Justin J. McShane

Of moos and clucks-the myth of FTIR identification By:  Frederic Whitehurst, J.D., Ph.D. [1] OK, so we will now discuss moos and clucks. Which is the basis for the problem with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) in forensic science. [2] If you close your eyes in a stock yard you can’t tell what moo came […]

Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: Circuitous thought-the myth of reliable and valid marijuana identification in the courtroom

Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: Circuitous thought-the myth of reliable and valid marijuana identification in the courtroom

On March 1, 2012, in Chemistry, Contextual Bias, Equipment, Ethics, Ethics: Scientist, Identification, In The Courtroom, Solid Drug Dose, by Justin J. McShane

Circuitous thought-the myth of reliable and valid marijuana identification in the courtroom By:  Frederic Whitehurst, J.D., Ph.D. [1] As scientists we all agree that the hallmarks of science are validity and reliability. What do we mean by that? Well, the government scientist has to agree that his method of answering a question put to him […]

Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: On sampling when testing multiple packets

Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: On sampling when testing multiple packets

On February 23, 2012, in Chemistry, Identification, Laboratory Procedure, SANE / Safe Nurse Examination, Trace Evidence, by Justin J. McShane

Sampling Crime: On sampling when testing  multiple packets By:  Frederic Whitehurst, J.D., Ph.D. [1] If we accept that forensic crime laboratories are completely overwhelmed, understaffed, underequipped, and exhausting environments in which to function, we see reality.  Despite political rhetoric to the contrary, there has been little, if any, relief for those folks in crime labs […]

Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: Forensic Science “Matches”-The Case of Black Powder

Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: Forensic Science “Matches”-The Case of Black Powder

On February 16, 2012, in Arson, Chemistry, Contextual Bias, Crime Scene Investigation, Identification, In The Courtroom, by Justin J. McShane

Forensic Science “Matches”-The Case of Black Powder By:  Frederic Whitehurst, J.D., Ph.D. [1] While reviewing case opinions in criminal matters involving forensic examinations one is often presented with various adjectives of comparison such as “matches,” “consistent with,” and “identical to.” Counsel seeing these adjectives in forensic reports may be elated if legal theories are supported […]

Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: “Matches” An Over inference of Data? A Giglio Obligation? The case of Paint Examination

Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: “Matches” An Over inference of Data? A Giglio Obligation? The case of Paint Examination

On February 9, 2012, in Chemistry, Contextual Bias, Ethics, Ethics: Scientist, Identification, In The Courtroom, Paint Analysis, Trace Evidence, by Justin J. McShane

“Matches” An Over inference of Data? A Giglio Obligation?: The case of Paint Examination By:  Frederic Whitehurst, J.D., Ph.D. [1] and Darlene R. Brezinski, Ph.D.[2] Forensic chemical analyses of complex matrices such as plastics, paints, or paper products, may lead to inconclusive results without analysts or reviewing counsel aware of the failing of the analyses. Complex […]

Quality Control in GC-FID: Teaching the machine right from wrong

Quality Control in GC-FID: Teaching the machine right from wrong

On February 7, 2012, in Chemistry, Equipment, Ethics, Ethics: Scientist, GC-FID & GC/MS, Identification, In The Courtroom, Laboratory Procedure, Metrology, Standards, by Justin J. McShane

It is shocking but very true statement that most sophisticated instruments such as a Gas Chromatograph (GC) with various detectors whether it is a mass spectrometer (MS) or flame ionization detector (FID) when produced and manufactured are incapable of producing meaningful results “straight out of the box.” These machines have to be “taught” what it […]

Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: Mr. Fletcher vs. Mr. Daubert A Journey into the Surreal

Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: Mr. Fletcher vs. Mr. Daubert A Journey into the Surreal

On February 2, 2012, in Chemistry, Contextual Bias, Identification, In The Courtroom, Laboratory Procedure, Solid Drug Dose, by Justin J. McShane

Mr. Fletcher vs. Mr. Daubert: A Journey into the Surreal   By:  Frederic Whitehurst, J.D., Ph.D. Many a defense attorney has looked in amazement at the courtroom “identification” of Cannabis Sativa L. by a law enforcement officer sporting a gilded pot metal badge and a high school diploma who has written a report that would […]