NACDL MEETS IN TORONTO AUGUST 11 - 14; MUCH GRIST FOR OUR MILL; JUNK SCIENCE; WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS; FLAWED PATHOLOGY IN CHILD DEATH CASES;

The up-coming conference of the National Association of Criminal Defence Lawyers is putting a healthy stress on highly current issues such as junk science, remedying wrongful convictions, and flawed pathology (and pathologists) in child death investigations (as personified by Dr. Charles Randal Smith) at its annual conference to be held in Toronto between August 11 and August 14.

Among the many gems being offered - in conjunction with the Criminal Lawyer's Association at what looks to be a phenomenal conference are:

0: The panel on purging wrongful convictions which will explore "Is the system working," moderated by Richard Wolson, and featuring panelists James Lockyer (Canada's Barry Scheck); Barry Scheck (the U.S.A's James Lockyer!) Cyrus Vance, Jr. (Manhattan DA); and Mike Ware. (Thursday August 12, 2010);

0: The panel called, "Sticks & Stones Will Break Your Case -- False Confessions & Flawed Eyewitness Testimony as Causes of Wrongful Convictions. It is moderated by Francesca Yaskiel, and features panelists: Prof. Timothy Moore; Joe Savage, and Colette Tvedt. (Thursday August 12, 2010);

0: An address entitled "Junk Science & Wrongful Convictions," by forensic science Guru Alan Gold of Toronto. (Friday August 13, 2010);

0: A panel called "An Ethical Imperative -- Leaving No Stone Unturned During Investigation and Trial Preparation," which is moderated by Frank Addario and features panelists Jay Clark and John Rosen; (Friday August 13, 2010), and,

0: An address called "Wrongful Convictions in Child Homicide Cases -- Lessons Learned from the Goudge Inquiry," by Jeffrey Manishen.

0: I am also looking forward to some of the other panels such as events such, "Wrongful Sentencing - Law & Disorder," "The Hardest Cases - Defending Terrorism Cases in 2010 and Beyond," "Fighting the Presumption of Guilt in Financial Crimes,""Don't Defend in the Dark - Getting Disclosure & Discovery That Can Illuminate Innocence," and "Keeping the Poison Out --The Exclusionary Rule in Action." (The Wrongful sentencing panel is moderated by Steve Skurka a highly experienced Toronto criminal lawyer who is an accomplished analyst of North America's criminal justice systems and author of a superb book on the Conrad Black trial);

In addition to the above highlights of interest to the readers of this Blog, other noteworthy events include a keynote address by Jon Krakauer,: author of "Into the Wild" and "Into Thin Air" and most recently, "Where Men Win Glory," the fascinating story of the cover-up of the friendly-fire death of Pat Tillman - and a keynote address by the Honourable Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice, the Supreme Court of Canada.

The Charles Smith Blog plans to be there!

The agenda - and other details on the conference - can be found at:

http://www.nacdl.org/public.nsf/Events/Annualmeeting_Fees?Opendocument

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be accessed at:

http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith

For a breakdown of some of the cases, issues and controversies this Blog is currently following, please turn to:

http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2010/07/new-feature-cases-issues-and.html

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog;