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Jurors want CSI-quality forensic evidence Prosecutors forced to explain lack of DNA, fingerprints
SFGate ^ | 5/29/05 | Jamie Stockwell, Washington Post

Posted on 05/30/2005 11:26:48 AM PDT by wagglebee

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To: rwfromkansas
You might be tempted to lie about watching CSI, but I would add a note of caution. All jury panel answers during voir dire are under oath and there have been cases where proven lies have been used to overturn verdicts and subject jurors to specific sanctions.
41 posted on 05/30/2005 1:53:55 PM PDT by Truth29
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To: FreedomCalls
"There was no "issue." The cops saw him throw it out the window and testified to that fact."

Having been the foreman on two juries where it quickly became evident the the police were either lying about what they saw the defendant do, or completely incompetent, I'm afraid I would need a little additional proof.

42 posted on 05/30/2005 1:55:29 PM PDT by chaosagent (It's all right to be crazy. Just don't let it drive you nuts.)
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To: chaosagent
Having been the foreman on two juries where it quickly became evident the the police were either lying about what they saw the defendant do, or completely incompetent, I'm afraid I would need a little additional proof.

If that's your standard -- no one would ever get convicted. Because the forensic "expert" (an employee of the police department) testifying as to if the fingerprints match or not could also be lying or completely incompetent. At some point you have to take the tin-foil hat off.

43 posted on 05/30/2005 2:42:57 PM PDT by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: wagglebee

Yeah, and if I were on the jury I'd wanna know how come it took the LEOs more than an hour to arrest the bad guy. Must be because not all the CSI folks have a Hummer to drive around in.


44 posted on 05/30/2005 3:29:08 PM PDT by upchuck (If our nation be destroyed, it would be from the judiciary." ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Hank Rearden
Don't make me get the Angry Flower cartoon out.

Pretty please?

45 posted on 05/30/2005 3:32:08 PM PDT by upchuck (If our nation be destroyed, it would be from the judiciary." ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: wagglebee

If the prospect of being tried by a jury of your peers isn't enough to keep one on the straight and narrow....


46 posted on 05/30/2005 3:34:06 PM PDT by mewzilla
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To: wagglebee
Forget CSI, watch

The New Detectives & Forensic Files

47 posted on 05/30/2005 3:50:01 PM PDT by csvset
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To: wagglebee
Hooray for the Jury, hooray for CSI!

No more convicted "ham sandwiches".

48 posted on 05/30/2005 3:51:44 PM PDT by bvw
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To: wagglebee

Michele Nethercott, a public defender in Baltimore: "While undoubtedly there's this 'CSI' effect, there might also be more awareness because of the many recent DNA exonerations and the problems with eyewitness testimony," she said. "Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when DNA came on the scene, you really needed a hearty sample, like a quarter-size. Now we're talking nanograms. ... You can swab a drinking glass and get saliva cells, and so these days, it's inexcusable if those things aren't tested."

Of course she would think this way. And she would expect it even if the crime were committed on the 50 yard line at the Super Bowl in front of a million witnesses


49 posted on 05/30/2005 4:03:20 PM PDT by commonasdirt (Reading DU so you won't hafta)
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To: The_Reader_David

I'm with you. I don't want perps to walk but folks, I'm from Louisiana. Our public officials including law enforcement often have earned a less than sterling reputations. Give me proof. BTW, I expect to be called for jury duty any day. I'll report back if I am selected.


50 posted on 05/30/2005 4:08:03 PM PDT by DryProng
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To: upchuck
Welllllllll, ok - but you asked for it.


51 posted on 05/30/2005 5:01:41 PM PDT by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: Ramonan
For one thing, you never get near as much time to work a case as the TV CSI gang does

You don't?

Let's see . . . 1 hour show . . . less 20 minutes for commercials . . . less 2 minutes for Opening Sequence and Credits at end . . . less 1 minute for 2-30 second PSA spots . . .

That means the Police have less than 37 minutes to process a crime scene???

52 posted on 05/30/2005 5:08:49 PM PDT by Petruchio ( ... .--. .- -.-- / .- -. -.. / -. . ..- - . .-. / .. .-.. .-.. . --. .- .-.. / .- .-.. .. . -. ...)
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To: Hank Rearden
I prefer Mr. Period and The Bad Boys of Punctuation
53 posted on 05/30/2005 5:10:58 PM PDT by Sofa King (MY rights are not subject to YOUR approval.)
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To: Truth29

but CSI watchers are apparently smart enough to know that!


54 posted on 05/30/2005 5:26:55 PM PDT by flashbunny
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To: FreedomCalls
April 15, 2003

WASHINGTON (AP) - Reformed after controversy in the mid-1990s, the FBI crime lab is dealing with new wrongdoing by employees that has opened the door for challenges of the lab's science in scores of cases involving DNA and bullet analysis, internal documents show.

One FBI lab scientist, who connected suspects to bullets through lead analysis, has been indicted after admitting she gave false testimony, and a technician has resigned while under investigation for alleged improper testing of more than 100 DNA samples, according to records and interviews. http://www.truthinjustice.org/FBI-crime-lab.htm

You need to be a bit more cautious about who and when to believe them yourself, IMO.

55 posted on 05/30/2005 5:54:19 PM PDT by B4Ranch ( Report every illegal alien that you meet. Call 866-347-2423, it's a FREE CALL)
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To: Hank Rearden

Thank you Hank. I've never seen that before. Well put!


56 posted on 05/30/2005 6:06:13 PM PDT by upchuck (If our nation be destroyed, it would be from the judiciary." ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: DryProng
In 1986 I got popped for DUI to which I plead guilty to. One thing I did learn in this is LEO's are trained to "make their case" even if that requires fudging the facts a little. Before this had I been on a jury and it was your word against a cops I would have believed the cop. No longer. Now I will try to determine who's telling the truth and that extra evidence would help in that.
57 posted on 05/30/2005 6:31:58 PM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin
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To: B4Ranch
You need to be a bit more cautious about who and when to believe them yourself, IMO.

Not at all relevant. I don't dismiss the testimony of whole categories of people based the misdeeds of a few. Go hold that up to the mirror to find your target audience. I have the intellectual rigor to distinguish betweens the actions of individuals rather than tarring all people in similar occupations with the same smears. Why would I care what one lab did unless that lab was the one who was providing evidence in a particular case? Just because some dweebs post stupid comments to Free Republic am I now supposed to think you are a dweeb too? It doesn't work that way.

58 posted on 05/30/2005 6:47:39 PM PDT by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: Lurkina.n.Learnin
In 1986 I got popped for DUI to which I plead guilty to. One thing I did learn in this is LEO's are trained to "make their case" even if that requires fudging the facts a little.

Why then did you plead guilty if you weren't in fact guilty?

59 posted on 05/30/2005 6:49:02 PM PDT by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: Ramonan

and dont forget if a crime tech ordered a cop around like on "CSI" he'd be laughed at.


60 posted on 05/30/2005 6:50:59 PM PDT by KneelBeforeZod ( I'm going to open Cobra Kai dojos all over this valley!)
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