This training is presented by the National Center on Forensics and will give the students a forecast of possible upcoming issues in the forensic sciences. In this session, Kenneth Melson, former Senior Advisor on Forensic Science to the Office of Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice, will focus on recent developments including changes to the rules of evidence, the use of substitute experts, forensic genetic genealogy in the courts and legislatures, and forensic science cases of interest. The attendees will learn how future criminal cases can be prepared by prosecutors to avoid legal and scientific pitfalls in their approaches to litigation by adjusting to the prevailing winds of change in the uses of forensic science.
George Mason University and the National Association of Attorneys General presents the National Center on Forensics Continued Training Plan to provide additional training sessions for more advanced information on the topics covered in the conference. In this training session panelist Mike Varone and Sam Miller will address the forensic expert’s role as a witness in criminal prosecutions, from grand jury and pretrial motions to trial testimony. Topics of discussion will include courtroom testimony tips, collaboration with legal counsel and law enforcement, types of hearings and the purposes of each, legalese translations, and recurring themes in direct and cross examination.
This training was presented as a part of the National Center on Forensics conference at George Mason University on August 8th, 2023. In this session, former Senior Advisor on Forensic Science in the Office of Legal Policy at the US Department of Justice Kenneth Melson touches on many topics affecting and influencing the field of forensic science currently. From backlogs to accreditation processes and entities, George Washington Law Professor Melson covers a succinct yet extensive snapshot of the current state of forensics. This session breaks down expert reports, discusses the current size of the field, and discusses how shortcomings are being addressed across the board via accreditation processes and the introduction and implementation of standards.
This training was presented as a part of the National Center on Forensics Conference at George Mason University on August 9th, 2023. In this panel discussion, the Department Counsel at the Virginia Department of Forensic Science Amy Jenkins, First Assistant Attorney General at the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office Amie Ely and Adjunct Professor at George Washington University Law School Kenneth Melson explore ethical considerations when processing case files. This session discusses the process of managing federal/state discovery and disclosures from a perspective of medical and law enforcement personnel and prosecutors.
This training was presented as a part of the National Center on Forensics conference at George Mason University on August 8th, 2023. In this session, First Assistant Attorney General Amie Ely, Former Senior Advisor on Forensic Science to the Office of Legal Policy at the US Department of Justice Kenneth Melson, and Special Assistant District Attorney Laurie Korenbaum review the evolution of Frye and the progression to Daubert regarding standards of admissibility, and the publication of the 2016 PCAST report. This discussion highlights the pros and cons of the Frye Standard vs the Daubert Standard, the PCAST Report standards to be used in forensic investigations with specific examples, and countering PCAST admissibility challenges in Daubert cases.