FSN: Forensic Science News » Courtroom Anecdotes

Case Story : Aim High

Forensics Guy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:00:56 +0000

FGI-FSN —

Military criminal defense attorneys contacted me to aide in the defense of a US serviceman who was charged with committing a drive-by shooting. I reviewed the case material, and said I didn’t think I would be able to help much, because the evidence I needed to examine had been destroyed when the

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More on Melendez-Diaz

Forensics Guy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:16:35 +0000

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The following article can be viewed in full here.

The article opens up with this statement:

Get ready to trade your lab coat for a suit coat. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling last Thursday will require crime lab analysts to appear in court and submit to cross-examination if their reports are entered into evidence. This

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MELENDEZ-DIAZ v. MASSACHUSETTS

Forensics Guy — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:16:36 +0000

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digg_url = 'http://digg.com/general_sciences/MELENDEZ_DIAZ_v_MASSACHUSETTS'; The recent Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decision in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts has sent a shockwave through the forensic science community in the United States.

In a community comment forum for forensic scientists, there was a comment from an analyst from another country, that stated they didn’t see what the

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Amazing Defensive Technique

Forensics Guy — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:32:39 +0000

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I was recently required to come testify on an old case I worked for a local police department a number of years ago. The actual work I performed was hardly a “case breaker”.

I simply looked at casings and projectiles recovered by police and inter-compared them, so see if they were fired from

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Casefile: Aim High

Forensics Guy — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:08:30 +0000

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digg_url = 'http://digg.com/general_sciences/Casefile_Aim_High#'; Good forensic scientists are supposed to be impartial. Their job is to simply explain to a jury what the physical evidence means in a case. Forensic scientists don’t have a horse in the race, so to speak. Regardless of which side calls them for testimony, some forensic testimony

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CSI Episode Reviews Delay

Forensics Guy — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:14:27 +0000

FGI-FSN —

As many of you have noticed and informed me, I am running a bit behind on my CSI Episode reviews. I have all the episodes DVR’d, but my work schedule has me out of state 3 out of 4 weeks recently. I will do my best to catch up starting next

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Scientific Forensicists

Forensics Guy — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:26:27 +0000

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digg_url = 'http://digg.com/general_sciences/Scientific_Forensicists';

Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

I have a hard time believing what some attorneys testify to during trials. Well, I guess they aren’t officially testifying, but they are stating their opinion on the matter, and end their pontification with a

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Mesa PD 0.00 BAC DUI Arrest?

Forensics Guy — Sat, 31 May 2008 00:27:27 +0000

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Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. Originally posted in New Times here:

I heard about this arrest right after it had happened. Mr. Squires was worried he would need my assistance looking over the laboratory data in case it came back with ANY alcohol

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The subpoena…

Forensics Guy — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:20:29 +0000

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Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. As a witness for trials, sometimes you can be served with a subpoena. Subpoenas are official court documents, usually signed by a judge, ordering you to appear at a courtroom at a certain date and time.

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Courtroom Waiting…

Forensics Guy — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:26:00 +0000

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Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. Here is an old “rant” I posted years ago about the waiting one does for court cases. At the end of the post I’ll add updated comments and perspectives now that I’m a private consultant, and no

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Welcome to Bench Notes…

Forensics Guy — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 03:32:33 +0000

FGI-FSN —

Welcome to Bench Notes. This is a blog that will hopefully highlight some funny court anecdotes, and give readers an inside look at forensic science.

The other day I was testifying in a firearms related case. I had been retained by the defense, but neither side was arguing the firearms related evidence.

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