Forensics

White House Advisory Council Report Is Critical of Forensics Used in Criminal Trials

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology released a final report Tuesday on forensics, concluding that much of the most common analysis used in criminal trials doesn’t meet scientific standards.

The final document nearly mirrored a draft report reviewed by The Wall Street Journal that raised questions about the use of bite-mark, hair, footwear, firearm and tool-mark analysis as evidence in thousands of trials annually in state and federal courts.

It sets the stage for criminal-defense challenges of long-held evidentiary methods and promises increased courtroom battles with prosecutors over the use of expert witnesses.