| FINDING AND INTERPRETING THE SCIENCE IN FORENSIC EVIDENCE
Impact of the NAS Report on the Justice System
THIS PROGRAM IS NOW FILLED TO CAPACACITY. WE WILL BE BROADCASTING THE CONFERENCE VIA A LIVE FEED IN ANOTHER ROOM. IF YOU ARE STILL INTERESTED IN REGISTERING, PLEASE CALL 617.573.8627.
Please Note: This course has already
been held.
Date: Thursday, February 11, 2010
Location: Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont St., Boston, MA
Time: 04:00 PM - 07:30 PM
Faculty
Schedule/Agenda
Registration Information
Supreme Court Justice Anton Scalia cited the National Research Council of the National Academies, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward Report numerous times and stated the following:
“The forensic science system, encompassing both research and practice, has serious problems that can only be addressed by a national commitment to overhaul the current structure that supports the forensic science community in this country.” National Academy Report P–1 (emphasis in original). .. Nor is it evident that what respondent calls “neutral scientific testing” is as neutral or as reliable as respondent suggests. Forensic evidence is not uniquely immune from the risk of manipulation. According to a recent study conducted under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences, “[t]he majority of [laboratories producing forensic evidence] are administered by law enforcement agencies, such as police departments, where the laboratory administrator reports to the head of the agency. .. And “[b]ecause forensic scientists often are driven in their work by a need to answer a particular question related to the issues of a particular case, they sometimes face pressure to sacrifice appropriate methodology for the sake of expediency.” Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, 129 S. Ct. 2527, 2536-2537 (June 25, 2009).
Because of the high number of DNA exonerations that have been based on faulty forensic science (over 50%) Congress, in 2005, commissioned the National Academy of Sciences “to assess the present and future needs of the forensic science community”. The impact of the findings of the NAS Commission will have a long reaching effect on the way scientific evidence will be used in the courtroom.
This program is intended to be informational and non-adversarial. It will review the findings in the report by a member of the Committee on Identifying the Needs of the Forensic Science Community, Attorney Marvin Schechter. Adina Schwartz, J.D., Professor, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, will breakdown the reliability and admissibility issues of a common forensic area: firearms and Toolmark identification. The program will then breakout into two separate sessions to foster frank discussions: one for the judges and one for the lawyers.
Attend and Learn:
- Why traditional forensic evidence is not as reliable as the courts have thought
- Why common forensic areas such as fingerprints and ballistics are subject to scientific challenge, despite the role of legal precedent
- Why an expert opinion may not be scientifically sound or reliable
- What needs to be done to ensure that whatever field of forensic expertise is being offered meets a standard of scientific reliability
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Stephanie Page, Esq., Chair
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Committee for Public Counsel Services, Dedham |
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Cathleen Bennett, Esq.
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Committee for Public Counsel Service, Dedham |
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Honorable Kenneth J. Fishman
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Superior Court |
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Anne Goldbach, Esq.
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Forensics Services Director, Committee for Public Counsel Service |
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Marvin E. Schechter, Esq.
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New York, NY |
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Adina Schwartz, J.D., Ph.D.
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Professor, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Graduate Center, CUNY |
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David M. Siegel, Professor of Law
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New England Law | Boston and New England Innocence Project |
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| S C H E D U L E / A G E N D A |
| 4:00 |
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES REPORT-STRENGHTHENING FORENSIC SCIENCE IN THE US: A PATH FORWARD |
Moderator: Stephanie Page
Marvin E. Schechter, Esq., Adina Schwartz, J.D., Ph.D. and Professor David M. Siegel
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| 6:00 |
CONCURRENT BREAKOUTS |
BREAKOUT ONE:
Members of the Judiciary
Honorable Kenneth J. Fishman and Marvin E. Schechter, Esq. BREAKOUT TWO:
Members of the Bar
Cathleen Bennett, Esq., Anne Goldbach, Esq., and Adina Schwartz, J.D., Ph.D.
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| Date: |
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Thursday, February 11, 2010 |
| Tuition: |
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Tuition is $149.00; $125.00 for attorneys admitted to the bar after 2007 and $99.00 for Suffolk Alumni and Bar Advocates (Bar Advocates, please select "Alumni Discount" as there will not be any indication for Bar Advocates in the drop down menu). Tuition includes a copy of Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward, National Academic Press.
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| Walk-Ins: |
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Space is limited. Registrations at the door are welcome, but please register in advance to reserve a seat and your written course materials or call to confirm space availability.
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| Refunds: |
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If for some reason you are not able to attend, you may send a substitute or call no later than the business day before to receive a refund less a $15.00 cancellation fee. Otherwise, you will receive the course materials.
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| Location: |
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Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont St., Boston, MA
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| Credit: |
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Approved for CLE Credit in RI, NH, VT & ME.
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Special
Needs: |
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If you have special needs addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act, please notify us as soon as possible.
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| Scholarships: |
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Are available to any attorney employed in public service, or for whom attendance would otherwise present a financial hardship. Please submit your request to Peniey McClary at pmcclary@suffolk.edu .
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Directions to the Law School.
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Library 
