Brief Bank
Below are amicus briefs either filed by the Innocence Network, or by individual Network project members, on issues that have been endorsed by the Innocence Network Board of Directors.
Issue: Unreliable Forensic Science
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- Access to Post-Conviction DNA Testing
- New Evidence of Innocence
- Electronic Recording of Custodial Interrogations Eyewitness Identification
- Electronic Recording of Custodial Interrogations
- Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
- Eyewitness Identification
- Unreliable Forensic Science
- Other Issues
- Police and Prosecutorial Misconduct
- Actual Innocence
Ford, Glenn (2007)
Counsel: Innocence Network by Sidley Austin
Court: Louisiana trial court
Case Number:
Position: - Challenges to unsound forensic sciences should be basis for granting a new trial.
Issues:
Unreliable Forensic Science
Melendez-Diaz, Luis v. Massachusetts (2008)
Counsel: Innocence Network
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Case Number: 07-591
Position: - Arguing that crime laboratory reports are "testimonial" within the meaning of Crawford v. Washington, and hence inadmissible unless presented by live testimony of the author subject to cross-examination under the confrontation clause.
Issues:
Unreliable Forensic Science
Siller, Thomas v. State of Ohio (2008)
Counsel: Innocence Network
Court: Ohio Court of Appeals, Eighth Appellate District
Case Number: 08-90865
Position: - New trial should be granted where conviction rested on snitch testimony and fraudulent forensic science.
Issues:
New Evidence of Innocence Unreliable Forensic Science