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Questioning the Use of DNA Testing Software in Criminal Prosecution
by Christopher Zoukis
The use of DNA evidence in criminal trials has become ubiquitous. Because DNA evidence is highly persuasive to judges and juries, several new tests purport to make positive DNA matches using minuscule amounts of matter, or even matter that has been polluted. As defense attorneys push back ...
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More from this issue:
- Civil Asset Forfeiture: Unfair, Unjust, Un-American, by Christopher Zoukis
- News in Brief
- Driver’s License Required for Conviction as Florida Habitual Traffic Offender, by David Reutter
- DNA Sketches Answer Prayers, Raise Concerns, by Dale Chappell
- Research Needed: Do Drug Dogs Respond to Drugs or Handler?, by Christopher Zoukis
- Questioning the Use of DNA Testing Software in Criminal Prosecution, by Christopher Zoukis
- Maine Supreme Court: State Must Provide Evidence to Support Probation Revocation, by Dale Chappell
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals: Right to Appeal Judge’s Questioning Not Forfeited by Failure to Object, by Dale Chappell
- Washington Court of Appeals Reverses Murder Conviction Due to Prejudicial PowerPoint, by Richard Resch
- Louisiana Indigent Defendants Face Death Penalty Without Lawyers, by Christopher Zoukis
- Two-Party Consent Law Forces Dismissal of 61 Cases in Washington Sting
- Georgia Supreme Court Reverses Mutually Exclusive Guilty Verdicts, by Christopher Zoukis
- Few Indigent Defendants Have Lawyer at Arraignment, by Mark Wilson
- Ohio Supreme Court: Courts Can Seal Case Records Prior to Expiration of Statute of Limitations, by Dale Chappell
- Massachusetts Supreme Court: Sleeping Juror Is “Structural Error,” Requires Intervention, by Dale Chappell
- CA Court Rejects Inventory Search and Inevitable Discovery Arguments in Warrantless Search Case, by Richard Resch
- California Court of Appeal: Prior Felony Does Not Convert “Wobbler” Into Felony, by Dale Chappell
- Idaho Supreme Court: Suspicionless Fishing Expeditions Not Tolerated, by David Reutter
- Georgia Supreme Court Instructs Federal Courts on Its Habeas Review Process, by Richard Resch
- Houston Police End Use of Error-Prone Drug Field Tests, by Matthew Clarke
- After 21-Year Imprisonment, Wrongfully Convicted Nevada Man Pardoned, by Christopher Zoukis
- First Circuit: Plain Error Standard Met When Trial Court Emphasized Erroneous Jury Instruction, by Dale Chappell
- New York Court of Appeals: Bail Bondsmen May Not Keep Premium If Defendant Not Released
- Use of Sentencing Mitigation Videos Grows, by Derek Gilna
- DNA Evidence: New Jersey Court Vacates Two 1996 Murder Convictions, by Mark Wilson
- Curb False Confessions: Provide Suspects With Lawyers, by Derek Gilna
- Fifth Circuit: “Fugitive from Justice” Enhancement Requires Intent to Avoid Prosecution, by Dale Chappell
- Mississippi Capital Murder Conviction Reversed Due to Prosecutorial Misconduct, by Christopher Zoukis
- Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas: Holds Trial Objection Enough to Preserve Issue for Appeal, by Dale Chappell
- $2 Million to Disabled Syracuse Man Tased by Cops, by Dale Chappell
- Hawaii Supreme Court: Defendants Entitled to Hearing Within 2 Days, by Dale Chappell
- Seventh Circuit: Capital Case Defendant Denied Pro Se Right Granted Habeas Relief, by Christopher Zoukis
- Jury Nullification: A Crucial Check on Government Power, by Christopher Zoukis
- U.S. Murder Clearance Rates Among Lowest in the World, by Matthew Clarke
- California Legalization of Marijuana Allows Convicted to Petition, by Derek Gilna
- Second Circuit Vacates 60-Month Sentence in Model Guidelines Sentencing Decision
- California Court of Appeal: Prejudice “Presumed” Where Jury Discussed Defendant’s Decision Not to Testify, by Dale Chappell
- Massachusetts Supreme Court: Permanent Ban on Sealing Record of Sex Offender Unconstitutional, by Dale Chappell
- Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules “Backseat Driver” Is a Real Thing Under Criminal Statutes, by Christopher Zoukis
- Iowa Supreme Court: Search of Third-Party at Premises Subject to Warrant Violates State Constitution, by Richard Resch
- Survival Tip: Don’t Call Cops If You’re Disabled, by Dale Chappell
- San Francisco and San Diego Expunging Marijuana Convictions Under Prop 64
- Ninth Circuit: Government Cannot Seize Cash Based Solely on Money’s Intended Use, by Christopher Zoukis
- Unjust Sexual Offense Laws: Insanity and Hope, by Brenda Jones, Ken Abraham
- Oregon Appeals Court: Defense Counsel Constitutionally Inadequate in Sexual Abuse Case, by Mark Wilson
- Ninth Circuit Warns Prosecutors Against Interfering With Defendants’ Legal Representation; Reverses First-Degree Murder Convictions, by Richard Resch
- $5.5 Million Verdict Against LAPD for Taser Death of Former Marine, by Derek Gilna
- Overworked Missouri Public Defenders Fear Suspensions and Firing, by Mark Wilson
- Prosecutor’s “Animosity” Toward Defense Leads Oregon Appeals Court to Vacate Convictions, by Mark Wilson
- $9.5M Settlement Approved by Chicago City Council for Yet Another Excessive Force Case, by Derek Gilna
More from Christopher Zoukis:
- The Contraband Wars Prison authorities target books and mail, miss the goods coming through the staff door, July 1, 2021
- Trump v. Biden on Criminal Justice, Oct. 1, 2020
- Coronavirus in Prison: The Cruel Reality, Aug. 1, 2020
- With Lives of Immigrant Detainees at Risk to COVID-19, Federal Judge Forces ICE’s Hand, July 1, 2020
- A Nation on the Brink, June 15, 2020
- Federal Court Slams Michigan Jail for Bungling COVID-19 Pandemic, Demands Names of Vulnerable Prisoners for Release, June 1, 2020
- Silence: The Bureau of Prisons’ Pathetic Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, June 1, 2020
- New York Judge Orders Release of 18 Rikers Island Detainees Due to COVID-19 Risk, June 1, 2020
- Coronavirus: A Nationwide Survey of the Push for Early Release as Pandemic Fears Grow, May 1, 2020
- California Three-Judge Court Denies Emergency Motion to Reduce Prison Population During Pandemic, May 1, 2020
More from these topics:
- Probabilistic Genotyping on Trial: Can We Trust the Secret Algorithms Deciding Guilt?, Aug. 1, 2025. DNA Testing/Samples, Crime Labs, Blood Samples/Tests, Scientific Testimony or Evidence.
- Los Angeles Criminal Legal System Undermined by Months of Faulty DNA Testing, May 15, 2025. DNA Testing/Samples, Sufficiency of Evidence, Evidence - Integrity/Reliability of, Evidence - Admissibility.
- Connecticut Supreme Court Announces Teague’s ‘Watershed’ Rule Exception to Nonretroactivity of New Constitutional Rule of Criminal Procedure on Collateral Review Has ‘Continued Vitality’ in Connecticut, Adoption of Third Exception to Teague’s Nonretroacti, April 15, 2025. Retroactivity, Criminal Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Eyewitness Identification.
- A Black Box, a Guilty Plea, and an Uncertain Truth, April 15, 2025. DNA Testing/Samples, Computer Searches, Forensic Sciences, Plea Agreements/Guilty Pleas.
- ‘Jack the Ripper’ Meets DNA Analysis, March 15, 2025. DNA Testing/Samples.
- Can Comics Help Juries Understand Complex DNA Evidence?, March 15, 2025. DNA Testing/Samples.
- Faster Justice: Rapid DNA Set to Expand Law Enforcement Reach, March 15, 2025. DNA Testing/Samples, Crime Labs, Forensic Sciences.
- Study: DNA Transfer in Social Settings, Feb. 15, 2025. DNA Testing/Samples, Forensic Sciences, DNA Evidence, DNA Evidence/Testing.
- Study Reveals Best DNA Recovery Spots on Drug Baggies, Feb. 15, 2025. DNA Testing/Samples, War on Drugs, DNA Evidence/Testing.
- Colorado Bureau of Investigation Admits Over 1,000 Cases Affected by DNA Test Misconduct, Feb. 1, 2025. Judicial Misconduct, DNA Testing/Samples, junk science, Forensic Sciences.
