Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Book Review: "The Lawyers Guide to the Forensic Sciences" edited by Caitlin Pakosh," published by Irwin Law; Reviewed by Harold Levy; Publisher. The Charles Smith Blog..."So how does one review such a monumental work – aimed at linking criminal lawyers with forensic experts from so many diverse fields of science? The first step is to read it – a task which I began with trepidation. However I quickly realized that Pakosh, case management counsel of Innocence Canada (formerly known as AIDWYC) since 2012 and responsible for managing the Association’s cases across Canada, has developed an approach which makes the literary journey most readable, understandable and interesting - and loaded with tips defence counsel can use to counter experts spawning flawed science in the courtroom."



Book Review: "The Lawyer's Guide to the Forensic Science,' edited by Caitlin Pakosh, published by Irwin Law, reviewed by Harold Levy, Publisher, The Charles Smith Blog.

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"Pakosh’s  opus could not come at a better time.

Once thought to be ‘sacred,’  forensic science is now viewed with  skepticism  (that’s a good thing) – and individual forensic sciences are coming under increased scrutiny.

“The lawyers guide to the forensic sciences,” enables  lawyers to stay on top of these dramatic developments in the U.S.A. and elsewhere – as it strips away the mystique and provides an excellent base for understanding its workings.

This opus (969 pages including a very comprehensive index)  is published by Irwin Law, publisher of   several important works on the role that flawed forensic science has played in miscarriages of justice, including ‘Forensic Investigations and Miscarriages of Justice’ by Robert Moles,  Bibi Sangha, and Kent Roach.

So how does one review such a monumental work – aimed at linking criminal lawyers with forensic experts from so many diverse fields of science?

The first step is to read it – a task  which I began with trepidation.

However I quickly realized that Pakosh,  case management counsel of Innocence Canada (formerly known as AIDWYC) since 2012 and responsible for managing the Association’s cases across Canada,  has developed  an approach which makes the  literary journey most readable, understandable and interesting -  and loaded with tips defence counsel can use to counter  experts spawning flawed science in the courtroom.

Contributor  Vladimir (Val) Chlistovsky, for example, suggests (among many others) that counsel consider a list of helpful lines of inquiry such as:

“Did the investigator use arc mapping and did the results support the fire patterns in determination of the area of origin?  

“If the investigator’s theory multiple areas of origin, what consideration was given  to the possibility of fire spread as opposed to multiple areas of origin?”

“How did the investigator identify potential ignition sources within the area(s) of origin? This often involves excavation of  the  fire debris , by hand in small scenes or using heavy equipment in large scenes.”

Thinking back on my criminal law practice (many years ago) I think that I would have served my clients much better on an arson case (or in cases involving other forensic sciences that are now recognized to have been highly flawed at the time), having  been exposed to this excellent book.

In addition to valuable tips for cross- examination of prosecution ‘experts,’  the fire investigations chapter also contains a case study, a section on legal context, and a role that the particular forensic ‘science’ – think ballistics, FBI hair matching,  and mixed DNA – plays in wrongful convictions.  Pakosh also laces the text with helpful  summaries and  conclusions.

I particularly was drawn by Pakosh’s excursion into areas such as shaken baby syndrome and ‘repressed memory’ – and the exposure I received to areas of forensic science which I had not been previously exposed to such as   digital evidence,  forensic anthropology,  forensic botany and forensic nursing.

Above all,  I applaud Ms. Pakosh for the book's stress in all areas–  on the importance of countering ‘bias’ (deliberate or not) –  on the part of experts  testifying for the prosecution.

In the chapter on fire investigation referred to above,  for example,  Chlistovsky  writes, “Even the perception of bias may become an issue. When, by their speech and conduct, fire investigators appear to be “part of the team” or to have lost their objectivity, defence council may attempt to portray the investigation as biased. To guard against the undermining of their objectivity, investigators should always be cognizant  of how they gather their information  and how that information is relevant to determining the origin and cause of the fire under investigation.

The danger of ‘bias’ is also underlined in the  chapter  on forensic nursing, with reference to the testimony of a  nurse who worked on  the sexual abuse unit of a Toronto hospital.  As the trial judge opined: “What was somewhat troubling to this court was that this impressive witness was not offering her form conclusion in the traditional expert’s context of it being more consistent with one position than another. Rather, she advocated an unqualified conclusion that would have the effect of usurping the function of the Court on the ultimate issue.”

The judge went on to note that the nurse conceded that she was less than entirely objective.  “She describes the mandate of this Centre as believing its clients and providing them with unconditional support, a laudable and understandable approach…”She admits to a  certain bias in her attitude   in analyzing what she sees on the basis of what the client tells  her. Her function is to gather evidence  supporting sexual assault.”

“Her strong conclusions bordered on advocacy, perhaps in response to the recanting nature of her patient’s testimony. That is not the role of a neutral expert.  However much I respect the qualifications and experience of this witness, I place somewhat reduced weight on her opinion of the significance of her observations.”

Given the stress on weeding out bias, it’s no surprise that Pakosh has devoted some of her pages to former  doctor Charles Smith, the namesake of this Blog,  with an account of what has been learned – and what changes have been made – in the aftermath of the public inquiry into many of his cases.

Indeed, Pakosh provides details of numerous  public inquiries into miscarriages of Justice  - where science has also been  sitting in the prisoner’s dock - that  have been conducted in Canada and elsewhere over the decades.

It’s time for me to provide a conclusion of my own:  Bravo to Irwin for providing  yet another work which will  prevent  flawed forensic science and inadequacies in the court process  from yielding miscarriages of justice – and bravo  to Pakosh, and her contributors, for  providing us  - not just defence  lawyers, but prosecutors,  expert witnesses and judges as well, no matter  in which country they happen to reside -  with such an array of helpful tools for avoiding wrongful convictions.

It’s a worthy goal for all of us.

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.

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