tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post1523440999272528862..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Forensic Science Commission diverting resources from investigating negligence, misconductGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-30201698333124399022010-12-17T15:46:30.188-06:002010-12-17T15:46:30.188-06:00There is a clear place for attorneys on the commis...There is a clear place for attorneys on the commission. While attorneys don't understand the full details of the science, the scientists don't grasp the full details of the law. By nature of the beast, the commission should be the two groups working together. Note, I'm talking about this commission, and not something that is pure science such as the NAS or AAFS.<br /><br />That being said, John Bradley is the opposite of what a decent prosecutor, and human being, is supposed to be. He has never been one to care about the truth or to encourage dilligent investigation. He argues against testing to overturn FALSE convictions and does all he can to make sure that the largest employment sector of this state is the prison system. I've never seen what the people that he keeps suckering into voting for him see in him. It can't be his personality any more than his ethics.<br /><br />I'm not sure how much longer the TFSC can last under his tenure. With his misappropriations, misallocations, and abuse of authority, not to mention an obstructionist attitude, it's doomed to fail soon by virtue of budget or simple lack of use. A shame, really. <br /><br />Maybe we can send a message to the legislature this time around to make alterations to the TFSC structure, and do so in a way that congress, not Perry, has control. Then maybe real justice can be done.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-55864636752182044112010-12-16T22:47:28.645-06:002010-12-16T22:47:28.645-06:00It's a pity that the FSC's remit wouldn...It's a pity that the FSC's remit wouldn't cover an investigation into the antics of Dr. Richard Coons, the "killer shrink" who for over 25 years testified - sometimes for over $400 an hour - that convicted capital defendants would be dangerous in future. The CCA finally called time on him in October, but this quack soaked up public funds while sending many to their deaths. He admitted himself that there was no scientific methodology behind his predictions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-80152238253688439082010-12-16T14:29:29.575-06:002010-12-16T14:29:29.575-06:00So, what complaints did they reject?So, what complaints did they reject?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-81649829139959596452010-12-15T13:19:51.613-06:002010-12-15T13:19:51.613-06:00Bradley is the master of sleazy political games. T...Bradley is the master of sleazy political games. Texas will be a better place when he leaves office. Any office, I suspect he could do tremendous damage to the justice system in the role of village dog catcher.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-46735844689573346152010-12-15T10:19:58.167-06:002010-12-15T10:19:58.167-06:00Spending funds to pay for legal counsel, now provi...Spending funds to pay for legal counsel, now provided by the AG, in an era of legislative mandated cutbacks is nothing short of fiscal irresponsibility.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-59343786096013592892010-12-15T09:05:23.421-06:002010-12-15T09:05:23.421-06:00Not very scientific, but last nite's "Goo...Not very scientific, but last nite's "Good Wife" segment was a combination of last minute appeal of a death row case (Sharon Keller) that was murder by arson (they used the Willingham case multiple times in the show). At least Texas provides good scripts for TV even if the commission continues to be diverted from it's legislative directive. Gotta give Bradley credit, trying to corral him is like eating a plate of spaghetti with your hands tied behind your back. Messy!Texas Mavericknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-49384403636070222672010-12-15T08:00:55.324-06:002010-12-15T08:00:55.324-06:00As an aside, the NY Times Science section yesterda...As an aside, the NY Times Science section yesterday ran an article on computing the "rarity" of a fingerprint. The unstated implication is that many fingerprints are false identifications. <br /><br />A "rarity" computation needs to be done on lifted prints to give a statistical assurance of the accuracy of the ID.<br /><br />The article goes on to compare fingerprint accuracy with DNA, but has the unstated implication that some number of DNA samples also fail the "rarity" test.<br /><br />Here's a pointer to the article:<br />http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/science/14obfingerprint.html?_r=1&ref=scienceJohnTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-63907285611020876442010-12-15T05:49:49.873-06:002010-12-15T05:49:49.873-06:00"Is it the position of the FSC to only perfor..."Is it the position of the FSC to only perform investigations into scientific misconduct that pertain to specific cases, concerns raised by lawyers/Innocence Project? "<br /><br />It doesn't have to be an innocence project or lawyer (the Austin lab case wasn't). But their investigations are supposed to focus on instances of neglect or misconduct; the scientists on the panel raised concerns that there were no specific allegations of either in the Austin case and that it seemed to be more about office personality conflicts than problems of science.<br /><br />And an attorney is heading the committee because the Governor appointed him. It's really the only reason.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-23866270564467707232010-12-14T20:23:59.108-06:002010-12-14T20:23:59.108-06:00I'm confused.
Is it the position of the FSC t...I'm confused.<br /><br />Is it the position of the FSC to only perform investigations into scientific misconduct that pertain to specific cases, concerns raised by lawyers/Innocence Project? Or will they also investigate general scientific misconduct of a lab, such as those concerns raised by the forensic analyst in the Austin crime lab?<br /><br />And how would an investigation from the TFSC differ from an investigation by a DA's Office, The Texas Department of Public Safety, or ASCLD-LAB (cf. "national accrediting association and other investigators")?<br /><br />It could be argued that because ASCLD-LAB gets paid by the crime lab they are investigating, ASCLD-LAB's results could be skewed to favor a valuable customer.<br /><br />And any investigation by TxDPS or a District Attorney may be less-than-transparent in order to avoid any public display of "embarrassing" facts (e.g. poorly trained analysts, mismanagement, brady violations).<br /><br />These days, the TFSC appears to be more concerned with litigations rather than scientific matters.<br /><br />Can anyone explain why an attorney is heading a scientific committee?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com