In the wake of the Troy Davis execution, there has been increased scrutiny of the death penalty in America. Even death penalty supporters have been forced to stop and think after the execution of an innocent man. The sad fact is that our justice system is broken and the forensic system is even more fractured. …
read more »Category: DUI Innocence Project
Not everyone who is charged with a DUI is guilty. In fact, many of our clients have been acquitted or have had the charges against them dismissed, even in high BAC cases, even with blood tests.
Inspired by the work of The Innocence Project, we think of our work At The McShane Firm as the DUI Innocence Project.
If you are looking for aggressive DUI defense by an attorney who believes in your innocence, call 1-866-MCSHANE.
Cops Planted Drugs on People to Meet Arrest Quotas
More disturbing reports out of NYC where narcotics police are being investigated for making false arrests to meet quotas: We fabricated drug charges against innocent people to meet arrest quotas, former detective testifies A former NYPD narcotics detective snared in a corruption scandal testified it was common practice to fabricate drug charges against innocent people…
read more »
Causes of False Convictions: Faulty Forensic Science
Once of the main causes of false convictions is unreliable or faulty forensic science. Unfortunately, many times the so-called experts who testify on behalf of the prosecution are viewed as real scientists by judges and jurors who themselves often have no formal education in the hard sciences. Thus they are unable to detect the pseudo-science…
read more »
Pennsylvania Man Freed After Serving 25 Years on False Conviction
From Pennlive.com: Pennsylvania man awaiting new trial in 1977 double killing can be released on bail, judge rules PITTSBURGH — A federal magistrate says a western Pennsylvania man can be released on bail while he awaits a new trial in a 1977 double killing for which he was previously sentenced to life in prison. U.S….
read more »
Widespread Police Corruption in NYC
In my years as an attorney defending DUI cases in Pennsylvania, I have dealt closely with many police departments. One problem I have found is there is a widespread lack of oversight and supervision. On top of that, some cops are under-trained and ill prepared for the rigors of being in law enforcement. These aspects…
read more »
Did We Just Kill an Innocent Man?
The U.S. justice system was shaken to its core as Georgia executed a person who may well be innocent. Killing a man under this enormous cloud of doubt is horrific and amounts to a catastrophic failure of the justice system. While many courts examined this case, the march to the death chamber only slowed, but…
read more »
Another DUI Testing Scandal: This time Houston
DUI testing scandals are nothing new nor are they even rare. From Central Pennsylvania to San Fransisco to Indiana to the Nation’s Capital, DUI testing scandals have effected tens of thousands of cases across the country. Lack of oversight, mishandling, cover-ups and under-qualified/over-worked technicians have become the norm rather than the exception. This time another…
read more »
Criminal Defense Lawyers: We Help People
My two year old daughter Mia asked me for the first time recently what I did at work. My response: “I help people.” She smiled, approved and said that it was good to help people. While it might not be well liked or socially popular, criminal defense attorneys play an important role in society by…
read more »
Bad Technology and Bad Laws Lead to False DUI Arrests
DUI are cases are very complex. Most of the time, the only evidence is the opinion of a bias police officer and a reading from a blood or breath test. Unfortunately, this opinion evidence coupled with bad technology leads to far too many false DUI arrests. Here as an excellent editorial on the causes for…
read more »
Challenging DUI Blood Evidence Part 5: Cross-Examining Forensic Experts
One question young, ambitious lawyers often ask me is, “how do you effectively cross-examine forensic experts?” Cross-examining the prosecution’s experts is one of the most important stages in a DUI case because if that “expert” testimony is left unchallenged, the blood alcohol reading or the drug concentration result will be accepted and most certainly will…
read more »