You have heard of the myth of the Horse Whisper, right? Heck Hollywood even made a movie about it. Robert Redford was a horse trainer who could whisper and talk with the horses. They would listen and communicate with him. Pretty fantastic stuff! There has also been the “Dog Whisperer” which is a TV series […]
Lecture on Analytical Chemistry in BAC testing Part 4
The above is Part Four from a lecture given by Attorney Justin J. McShane before the North Carolina Advocates for Justice “Advanced DWI Seminar”. This seminar happened on February 26, 2010. It was organized and hosted by John K. Fanney, Esquire of Fanney & Jackson, P.C. The following is a transcript of this video: Now, […]
Lecture on Analytical Chemistry in BAC testing Part 3
The above is Part Three from a lecture given by Attorney Justin J. McShane before the North Carolina Advocates for Justice “Advanced DWI Seminar”. This seminar happened on February 26, 2010. It was organized and hosted by John K. Fanney, Esquire of Fanney & Jackson, P.C. The following is a transcript of this video: What […]
Lecture on Analytical Chemistry in BAC testing Part 2
The above is Part Two from a lecture given by Attorney Justin J. McShane before the North Carolina Advocates for Justice “Advanced DWI Seminar”. This seminar happened on February 26, 2010. It was organized and hosted by John K. Fanney, Esquire of Fanney & Jackson, P.C. The following is a transcript of this video: I […]
Lecture on Analytical Chemistry in BAC testing Part 1
The above is Part One from a lecture given by Attorney Justin J. McShane before the North Carolina Advocates for Justice “Advanced DWI Seminar”. This seminar happened on February 26, 2010. It was organized and hosted by John K. Fanney, Esquire of Fanney & Jackson, P.C. The following is a transcript of this video: My […]
Pseudoscientists and snake oil salesmen in modern forensic science
Snake oil salesmen The term originally came from the 19th century where unethical and unscrupulous vendors hyped up elixirs and potions that were touted and sold as magic cure-alls. The claims of magic-like restorative properties were hyped up to a frenzied crowd, which bought the elixirs and potions en masse only to later find the […]
When civil law holds up the organic progression of science
One of my most comforting thoughts comes from the following quote I once heard: Over the long term science is self-correcting Another one that I like is: The free, unhampered exchange of ideas and scientific conclusions is necessary for the sound development of Science, as it is in all spheres of life.’ (Albert Einstein, 1952) […]
Government run Crime Labs are never wrong
It never happens, right? Crime labs cannot be wrong. There is no need to be professionally scientifically skeptical as to the reported test results of a crime lab, right? We should always trust the government because, after all, they’re here to do good, right? Right? WRONG! As my great friend and Minnesota criminal trial attorney […]
Will US Courts Wake Up and Look at Bad Forensic Science?
It was once said that science over the long term is self-correcting. Too bad law isn’t. But there is hope. There is at least one jurist who cares. US District Court Judge Nancy Gertner has issued a standing order for all prosecutors and defenders who come before her. She has ordered that they not assume […]
Bayesian Based Metrology and DNA
A great friend and colleague of mine from Maryland recently had a trial involving mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that was used to “not exclude” his client as the donor of a particular hair found within the duct tape used to fashion a home-made silencer used to kill a lady. Leaving the use of mtDNA alone for […]
The use of “loaded” language in the Courtroom and in forensic science
Just two days ago we examined the use of the word “match” and how it is a fungible concept and its use is devoid of any sort of scientific merit. So this makes for a obvious question, what other language is used in the courtroom that evokes the same idea of expressing a matter beyond […]
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