The Future of Crime Labs and Forensic Science
Symposium Co-Sponsors
The Houston Law Review
Criminal Justice Institute
Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Jurist-In-Residence Lectureship Series
Cancelled - Due to UH Closing and Severe Weather (www.uh.edu/emergency)
NEW DATE - Friday, September 20, 2019
*Keynote Speaker Judge Jed S. Rakoff (S.D.N.Y)
8:45am
Friday, September 20, 2019
8:00 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
University of Houston Law Center
CLE Credit 3.75
Friday, September 20, 2019
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Registration and Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Welcome and Introduction
Sandra Guerra Thompson, University of Houston Law Center
8:45 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Keynote Address:
Hon. Jed S. Rakoff, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Jurist-In-Residence Lecture
Why Judges Admit Bad Forensic Science and What Can Be Done About It
Bad forensic science evidence is present in more than 40% of cases involving innocent people being wrongly convicted. Yet, despite repeated warnings from the scientific community as to the doubtful quality of much of this evidence, such as hair comparisons, bite-mark comparisons, arson analyses, and the like, the great majority of courts continue to admit such evidence routinely. This lecture discusses the weakness of such evidence, the reasons for its continued admission in the face of such weakness, and what might be done to cure this problem.
9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Roadblocks: Cultural and Structural Impediments to Forensic Science Reform
Jessica Gabel Cino, Georgia State University College of Law
Commentator: Sarah Chu, Innocence Project
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m. – 11:130 a.m.
State Habeas Reform since the NAS Report: Changed Science Writs
Valena Beety, Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Commentators: Bob Wicoff, Harris County Public Defender’s Office
Gerald Doyle, Harris County District Attorney’s Office
11:30 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.
The Quality and the Quantity of Forensics
Brandon L. Garrett, Duke Law School
Commentator: Nick Hughes, Harris County Public Defender’s Office
12:15 p.m.
Lunch served
12:45 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
How Can a Forensic Result be a “Decision”?
Simon A. Cole, UCI School of Social Ecology
Commentator: Dr. Amy Castillo, COO of the Houston Forensic Science Center
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Solving Daubert’s Dilemma in Forensic Science through Blind Testing
Nicole Casarez, University of St. Thomas Commentator: Edward Cheng, Vanderbilt Law School
The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One research university and an EEO/AA institution.
