Forensic Bioinformatics
8th Annual Conference
The Science of DNA Profiling:
A National Expert Forum
October 10-11, 2009
Las Vegas Marriott
About the Conference
The conference is primarily intended to be an opportunity for experts and attorneys familiar with forensic DNA profiling to exchange information and insights. Less experienced attorneys learn what issues may be important to criminal cases they are litigating as well as to determine which resources and experts are best suited to assist them. There are no admission restrictions.
Over a period of two days, the seminar will cover subjects germane to forensic DNA including: evidence collection, quality assurance, validation of laboratory procedures, transfer, identification, technical artifacts and error, juror comprehension, expert witness selection and due diligence. Course materials consisting of speaker presentations and supporting references such as key literature, legal documents and web sites will be provided to each participant in electronic format at the beginning of the seminar. Written course evaluations will be solicited from all participants.
Course Speakers
The course will mainly be headed by Christine Funk, Simon Ford, and Carrie Rowland.
Christine Funk is a criminal defense attorney and adjunct professor at William Mitchell College of Law. She has been a criminal defense attorney for over 12 years, has been dealing with forensic DNA issues in the courtroom for almost as long. Funk has been with the public defender's office her entire career. Her current job with the State of Minnesota's Public Defender's Office is to handle and/or assist other attorneys with complex litigation. She also focuses on forensic issues for the office, including DNA evidence as well as other scientific disciplines in the courtroom. Christine Funk has presented DNA education to lawyers and lay persons across the country.
Christine.Funk@state.mn.us
Simon Ford, Ph.D. is the principal of Lexigen Science and Law Consultants, Inc., in San Francisco. Born in England, Dr. Ford holds a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Genetics from the University of Leeds, also in the United Kingdom. He has been working with DNA for twenty-five years as a researcher, teacher, writer, and consultant, specializing in forensic and environmental applications of DNA technology. Simon has worked as a consultant in several hundred cases involving DNA evidence, and his related consulting work has been his primary means of support for over a decade.
ford@bioforensics.com
Carolyn Rowland, M.S., Mrs. Rowland is currently an analyst at Forensic Bioinformatics, Inc. in where she reviews case files (including Genophiler output, laboratory notes and serological results) associated with forensic DNA testing. She has reviewed and consulted with the lead attorneys of more than 800 cases over the past seven years.
rowland@bioforensics.com
Useful chart of DNA terms, information on commonly-used testing kits,
how to identify some specific problems with DNA evidence, and twelve important questions
that always need to be asked about DNA evidence.
William Thompson and Dan Krane. Chapter 11: DNA in the courtroom. Psychological and Scientific Evidence in Criminal Trials. West Group. 2003.
Justice Weir.
The Queen v. Sean Hoey. Crown Court sitting in Northern Ireland. Bill No: 341/05. Neutral citation no. [2007] NICC 49. Ref: WEI7021. December 20, 2007.
