Lab technicians are not infallible!
Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 1:31 pm
Jan 7, 2009: Los Angeles Times editorial The price of justice
The Supreme Court should not backtrack on its ruling that the defense has a right to cross-examine experts who present lab reports for the prosecution. At a time when television crime dramas suggest that forensic testing is infallible, jurors are likely to give prosecutors the benefit of the doubt when they introduce a scientific report whose author can't be cross-examined about the care with which a test was conducted. When it reviews the Virginia ruling, the high court should render an opinion that says, in effect, "We were right the first time."
See the Full Editorial
Additional information on the ruling from LA Times, Jul 26, 2009 Supreme Court ruling shakes up criminal trials Cases have been thrown out and doubts linger after last month's decision giving defendants the right to question forensic technicians in court.
see the Full Story
The Supreme Court should not backtrack on its ruling that the defense has a right to cross-examine experts who present lab reports for the prosecution. At a time when television crime dramas suggest that forensic testing is infallible, jurors are likely to give prosecutors the benefit of the doubt when they introduce a scientific report whose author can't be cross-examined about the care with which a test was conducted. When it reviews the Virginia ruling, the high court should render an opinion that says, in effect, "We were right the first time."
See the Full Editorial
Additional information on the ruling from LA Times, Jul 26, 2009 Supreme Court ruling shakes up criminal trials Cases have been thrown out and doubts linger after last month's decision giving defendants the right to question forensic technicians in court.
see the Full Story