How Do Lawyers Challenge Prosecution DNA Claims
Video Transcript
Lawyers challenge prosecution DNA claims by attacking collection and storage procedures, lab methods and error rates, statistical interpretation, and chain of custody. Even a “match” can be unreliable if contamination, transfer DNA, mixtures, or analyst bias affected testing or reporting. This article explains the most effective legal and scientific defenses, the experts and records to request, and how courts evaluate DNA evidence in criminal cases.
Ray Hrdlicka – Host – Attorneys.Media
“Well, it seemed like it’s a natural progression to question that. But maybe in the onset of the use of DNA back many years ago, they never asked that next question. You know, it was just hey, it’s there, so we got the answer.”
Regina Tsombanakis– Criminal Defense Attorney – Fort Lauderdale, FL
“Yeah, because DNA is a very complex scientific theory, and most lawyers are not scientific. So, yeah, it’s hard to wrap your head around it. I mean, people with, like, serious degrees have come up with this… this is not easy science. So, a lot of the times it had become hard. But as more and more research and different things came out, now there’s forensic experts that we’re able to hire. That doesn’t just work for the government. So, it’s spread out to the private sector, which is very good for us.”