Monday, October 04, 2010

Speakers announced for Forensic Science Seminar

Anticipating one of the big events here during Flawed Forensic Science Week, here's a press release just received from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' Criminal Justice Integrity Unit  about their seminar later this week at the Texas capitol:
On behalf of the Texas Criminal Justice Integrity Unit, Judge Barbara Hervey is proud to announce that the Texas Forensic Science Seminar will take place on October 7-8, 2010, at the Texas State Capitol Auditorium. Cosponsors include: Senator Rodney Ellis’ Office, Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory, Center for American and International Law, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Texas District and County Attorneys Association, Texas Center for the Judiciary, and the Texas Police Chiefs Association. Advanced registration is required. For more information, visit the Unit’s Website at: http://www.cca.courts.state.tx.us/tcjiu/cle.asp. Speakers and topics will include:
  • Welcoming Remarks: Judge Barbara Hervey, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
  • Texas Legal Standards for Forensic Evidence: Prof. Guy Wellborn, University of Texas School of Law
  • Mock Hearing Demonstration: Cynthia Kent, Retired Smith County District Judge; Sam Bassett, Minton, Burton, Foster, & Collins, P.C.; and John Bradley, Williamson County District Attorneys Office
  • Admissibility of Forensic Science Testimony from the Perspective of the Forensic Scientist: Joe Bono, American Academy of Forensic Science
  • Forensic Ethics: Judge Michael Keasler, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; and Charles Mallin, Tarrant County District Attorneys Office
  • Quality Assurance Standards and Laboratory Accreditation Auditorium: Ralph Keaton, ASCLD-LAB; and Pat Johnson, Texas DPS Crime Laboratory
  • Solutions for DNA Backlogs: Dr. Jeff Boschwitz, Orchid Cellmark; and Peter Marone, Virginia Department of Forensic Science
  • The NAS Report: Dr. Jay Siegel, Forensic and Investigative Science Program at Indiana Purdue University
  • The Scientific Method (Auditorium): Joe Bono, American Academy of Forensic Science
  • Virtual Tour of the Texas DPS Crime Lab
  • Eyewitness Identifications & Confessions: Rebecca Brown, The Innocence Project
  • Flawed Forensics and Wrongful Convictions Finance Room: Edwin Colfax, The Justice Project
  • Arson/Fire Investigations: Steve Carman, Retired ATF Agent
  • Digital and Multimedia Evidence: Jennifer Land, Texas DPS Crime Laboratory
  • Trace Evidence: Melissa Valadez, Texas DPS Crime Laboratory
  • Firearms and Toolmarks: Tim Counce, Texas DPS Crime Laboratory
  • DNA Evidence: Dr. Arthur Eisenberg, University of North Texas Health Science Center
  • Latent Print Evidence: Bryan Strong, Texas DPS Crime Laboratory
  • Toxicology: Dr. Sarah Kerrigan, Sam Houston State University Regional Crime Laboratory
  • HGN and DWI Investigations : Lt. Jimmy Jackson, Texas DPS Highway Patrol Division
Be there or be square.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's disappointing to see John Bradley will be allowed to participate at all in a forensics seminar when he fights to keep integrity out of forensics all around. At least he can show in his hearing how he usually manipulates the system to prevent truth and to get the results he thinks is right.

Anonymous said...

Maybe while Cynthia Kent is there someone will tell her that DNA evidence is more reliable than eyewitness evidence. Several years ago when a man who had been convicted in her court was cleared by DNA evidence she refused to support a pardon for him because there was an eyewitness.