One of the the problems I face when dealing with state crime labs is that the average judge or juror sees them as being actually infallible and wholly scientific. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The fact of the matter is that these crime labs are about as scientific as a tenth grade chemistry…
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Why Do You Support DUI?
In my years of defending DUI cases in Pennsylvania, one of the most common misconceptions I come across is people questioning why I support DUI. The fact of the matter is, I don’t support drunk driving. It is dangerous and many lives are needlessly lost because of DUI each year. Asking a DUI defense attorney…
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And These are the People We Trust Our Forensics To?
More Reports of Criminal Behavior Call into Question the Integrity of Pennsylvania DUI Crime Labs A forensics technician and phlebotomist in a Pennsylvania DUI crime lab has admitted to stealing from DUI suspects: Lab Tech Accused Of Stealing Money From Suspects, Detective State Police: Woman Admitted To Taking More Than $800 BERKS COUNTY, Pa. —…
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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…
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New Designer Drugs Pose a Problem for Forensic Science
Recently Gov. Corbett signed a law banning bath salts and other forms of synthetic marijuana and drugs. However, even before the ink dried, the inevitable happened: People made new drugs. From synthetic drugs to exotic plants to cleaners and chemicals, people have found new ways to get high and continue the cat-and-mouse game with the…
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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…
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Challenging DUI Blood Evidence Part 4: Sources of Error in Blood Testing
Being able to challenge DUI blood evidence effectively is one of the ways The McShane Firm separates itself from the rest of the crowd in Pennsylvania. Our attorneys are experienced at exposing the weaknesses in the government’s case and challenging its evidence. DUI blood testing inherently has a number of sources of error that can…
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Challenging DUI Blood Evidence Part 3: Testing for Drugs
In Pennsylvania DUI cases, blood testing evidence holds a place of great importance because its results are normally seen as accurate and scientific. Prosecutors think that blood evidence is without flaw. This is far from true. In this series, Challenging DUI Blood Evidence, we offer a simple yet comprehensive look at blood testing in DUI…
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Challenging DUI Blood Evidence Part 2: How Blood is Tested
In our on-going series on DUI blood testing, we aim to educate our readers to help them understand the evidence collected against them. Today we examine How Blood is Tested for DUI Cases. When it comes to blood testing for DUI cases they come in two types and then sub-types. The first category depends upon…
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Challenging DUI Blood Evidence Part 1: Introduction
In my years as a PA DUI Attorney, I have learned that the ability to challenge DUI blood evidence is a vital skill that can help win many cases. This is because there is a common myth that DUI blood testing is accurate and precise. Prosecutors treat it as if it is the “Holy Grail…
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