×
You've used up your 3 free articles for this month. Subscribe today.
Lung Float Test: Junk Science Used to Convict Women of Murder
by David M. Reutter
When a woman has a child while alone that does not survive, authorities may wonder if the child was stillborn or murdered by the mother. Many medical examiners attempt to answer that question by conducting a 17th Century procedure that medical experts say is “highly inaccurate ...
Full article and associated cases available to subscribers.
As a digital subscriber to Criminal Legal News, you can access full text and downloads for this and other premium content.
Already a subscriber? Login
More from this issue:
- Understanding Fusion Centers, by Michael Thompson
- Unconscious Bias: Facial Features Can Influence Life-or-Death Decisions in Verdicts, by Jo Ellen Nott
- LexisNexis Aids Customs and Border Patrol to Flaunt Fourth Amendment, by Anthony Accurso
- Lung Float Test: Junk Science Used to Convict Women of Murder, by David Reutter
- Watchlisted: You’re Probably Already on a Government Extremism List, by Nisha Whitehead, John W. Whitehead
- Studying Ant Bites on Cadavers May Advance Criminal Investigations, by Douglas Ankney
- Illinois Supreme Court Announces § 9-1.2(d) Sets Range of Sentences for Intentional Homicide of Unborn Child but Does Not Convert Offense Into Murder for Life-Sentence Enhancement, by Douglas Ankney
- Seventh Circuit Orders District Court to Hold Evidentiary Hearing Where Record Insufficient to Permit Review of State Prisoner’s Section 2254 Habeas Petition Alleging Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, by Douglas Ankney
- Nebraska Supreme Court Announces Probation Search Unlawful When Conducted After Original Term Expired and Before Hearing on Extending Term, by Matthew Clarke
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court: Failure to Disclosure Mental Health Report Showing Key Witness Was a Sociopath Constitutes Brady Violation That Prejudiced Defendant, by Anthony Accurso
- Audit Finds LAPD’s Frivolous Use of Helicopters Flunks Cost/Benefit Analysis, by Douglas Ankney
- The Supreme Court’s Forensic Follies, by Michael Thompson
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Announces Correct Computation of Time for Purposes of Determining When Statute of Limitations Has Run for Returning Indictment, by Douglas Ankney
- Research Paper Reveals Laypeople Have Insufficient Understanding of False Confessions by Examining Prior Research Based on Surveys and Mock Juries, by David Reutter
- Preliminary Analysis of Recidivism Data After Three Years Under First Step Act Is Promising but Inconclusive, by Jo Ellen Nott
- California Court of Appeal: Petitioner Has Constitutional Right to Be Present at Hearing to Determine Facts Surrounding Felony Murder Charges for Possible Resentencing Under § 1172.6, by David Reutter
- Interactive Lineups Are a Promising New Tool to Improve Accuracy of Suspect Identification by Eyewitnesses, by Jo Ellen Nott
- New York Court of Appeals Reverses Conviction Because Testifying Criminalist Not Shown to Have Requisite Involvement in DNA Testing Process and Provides Guidance to Avoid Future Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause Violations, by Anthony Accurso
- Fourth Circuit: Defendant Entitled to Discovery and Evidentiary Hearing on § 2255 Petition to Withdraw Guilty Plea Because It Was Not Knowingly and Voluntarily Made, by Richard Resch
- First Circuit: Miranda Waiver Not Valid Where Interrogating Officer Answered ‘No’ to Defendant’s Question — ‘None of this can be used against me, can it?’, by Douglas Ankney
- The Potential for Soil Dust Analysis in Forensics, by Anthony Accurso
- Oregon Supreme Court Announces ‘Escape Clause’ of Postconviction Relief Statute’s SOL Applies to Severe Mental Impairments During Limitations Period, by David Reutter
- California Court of Appeal Reverses Denial of Full Resentencing Under SB 483, by Matthew Clarke
- ‘How The Government Created a Terrorist’: FBI-Manufactured Crimes Reveal Urgent Need for Reforms, by Douglas Ankney
- Improvements to Decertification Procedure for Law Enforcement Officers Guilty of Excessive Force Urgently Needed, by Douglas Ankney
- Minnesota Supreme Court Holds Prosecutor’s Repeated Statements During Closing Arguments That Defendant ‘No Longer Has Presumption of Innocence’ Constitutes Plain Error, Requiring a New Trial, by David Reutter
- New York Court of Appeals Announces Traffic Stop of Bicyclist Is Seizure Under Both Fourth Amendment and State Constitution Requiring Reasonable Suspicion of Crime or Probable Cause of Traffic Violation, by Richard Resch
- Foundations of Firearms Audio Forensics Built by Dr. Robert Maher Will Continue to Be Important Forensic Tool as More Recording Devices Are Present at Crime Scenes, by Jo Ellen Nott
- Amazon Ring Curbs Police Access to Doorbell Camera Footage—But Privacy Concerns Remain, by Jo Ellen Nott
- FBI Searches of NSA Data Extended Until April, Despite Admission of Unconstitutionality, by Anthony Accurso
- Suspicion of Government Surveillance Increasing, by Anthony Accurso
- Cops’ Sky-High Hopes, by Michael Thompson
- DEA and Police Use Pretense of Consent Searches to Effectively Steal Cash From Airport Travelers, by Anthony Accurso
- A Legal Argument Against Government Purchase of Location Data, by Anthony Accurso
- North Carolina Supreme Court: Outstanding Warrant for Driver Who Fled Accident Scene Does Not Authorize Inventory Search of Disabled Vehicle, by Anthony Accurso
- News in Brief
- Cops Just Love Secret Metadata Collection, by Michael Thompson
More from David Reutter:
- Help Wanted: 31,000 Prison Guard Jobs Open Nationwide, Sept. 1, 2025
- Fifth Circuit Greenlights Federal Takeover of Mississippi Jail, Aug. 1, 2025
- Ninth Circuit Revives Prisoner’s Claim Based on Guard’s Thwarting of Administrative Remedies, Aug. 1, 2025
- Tenth Circuit Ruling Paves Way for $2.7 Million Settlement for Intellectually Disabled Jail Detainee Raped by Sheriff, Aug. 1, 2025
- Ninth Circuit Agrees That Former Guantanamo Detainee Lacks Grounds to Sue for Waterboarding, Aug. 1, 2025
- Qualified Immunity Denied for Iowa Prison Doctor’s MRI Delay for Non-Medical Reasons, Aug. 1, 2025
- Ninth Circuit: Continuing-Violations Doctrine Applies for PLRA Administrative Exhaustion Purposes, Aug. 1, 2025
- First Circuit: Prosecutor’s Breach of Plea Agreement Requires Government’s Specific Performance of Agreement, Not Specific Performance by District Court, Aug. 1, 2025
- Oregon Prisoners Can Now Seek Economic Damages for Future Lost Income More Easily, July 15, 2025
- $22.5 Million Verdict Arrives Too Late for Wrongfully Convicted Illinois Prisoner, July 15, 2025
More from these topics:
- Sixth Circuit Upholds $45 Million Verdict for Wrongfully Convicted Former Ohio Prisoner, Aug. 1, 2025. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- Two Exonerated Illinois Prisoners Win Settlements Totaling $14.5 Million, Aug. 1, 2025. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- Fourth Circuit Revives Wrongful Conviction Claim of Exonerated Maryland Prisoner, State Pays Him $3.1 Million, Aug. 1, 2025. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- $22.5 Million Verdict Arrives Too Late for Wrongfully Convicted Illinois Prisoner, July 15, 2025. Wrongful Conviction, Confessions - Coerced, Confessions and Statements of Defendant.
- $12 Million for Former California Prisoner Exonerated After 17 Years, July 15, 2025. Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment, Coercive Interrogations.
- $7.75 Million Settlement for Exonerated North Carolina Prisoner, June 1, 2025. Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- $13 Million Awarded to Exonerated Massachusetts Prisoner for Wrongful Conviction, June 1, 2025. Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- Rejected by Conviction Integrity Unit, 27 New York Prisoners Exonerated Anyway, June 1, 2025. Wrongful Conviction, Offense of Conviction.
- Kansas Supreme Court Denies Compensation to Former Prisoner Whose Conviction Was Overturned, May 1, 2025. Wrongful Conviction, Damages - Compensatory.
- New Orleans Public Defender’s “Redeem Team” Says: “Re-entry Is Never Over”, May 1, 2025. Settlements, Wrongful Conviction, Life without Parole (LWOP), Juveniles, Post-release, ex-offender, re-entry, Remands/Rehearings/Resentencings.