National Conference on Science, Technology and the Law

September 12-14, 2005
Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club
St. Petersburg, Florida

A National Institute of Justice Conference
Sponsored by: The National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law at Stetson University College of Law

Co-sponsored by:
The American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section
The American Bar Association, Science and Technology Section
International Association of Chiefs of Police - Forensics Committee
National District Attorneys Association

Conference Overview

Given the explosion of scientific evidence litigation coupled with the " CSI Effect, " scientists, law enforcement, laboratory personnel, judges and lawyers are overwhelmed by the amount of information required to educate them to meet these legal challenges. Recent studies have also demonstrated a need for more scientific information and education for jurists and attorneys.

The purpose of this National Conference is to improve the understanding of the interaction of science, technology and law among scientists, law enforcement, attorneys and judges and to facilitate further discussion of emerging legal and scientific issues and emerging trends in the use of scientific evidence in the courtroom. The conference is designed for criminal justice professionals, including prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, investigators, law enforcement, forensic scientists, the academic community (including psychologists, molecular biologists, and biotechnologists), and the expert witness community.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits will be offered to conference attendees. Further details will be updated here.

Conference Schedule

Monday (Day 1) September 12, 2005

7:30am - 8:30am REGISTRATION

9:00am - 9:15am WELCOME REMARKS - John Morgan - NIJ and Carol Henderson, Director - NCSTL

9:15am - 9:30am INTRODUCTORY REMARKS - Congressman Bill Young (invited)

9:30am - 10:00am KEYNOTE SPEAKER - Nola T. Foulston, District Attorney, 18th Judicial District, State of Kansas, Sedgwick County

10:00am - 10:30am BREAK

10:30am -12:00pm SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND LAW UPDATES

  • Law: Paul Giannelli, Law Professor, Case Western Reserve
  • Science: Vahid Majidi, Ph.D., Division Leader Chemistry Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Technology: Erin Kenneally, Forensic Analyst, Supercomputer Center, University of California San Diego


    • 12:00pm - 1:30pm LUNCH SESSION: THE 'CSI EFFECT' AND THE IMPACT OF NEWS COVERAGE ON HIGH PROFILE CASES
    Steve Mills, Chicago Tribune
    Richard Willing, USA Today

    1:30pm - 5:00pm THE INVESTIGATION, PROSECUTION, AND DEFENSE OF CYBERCRIME CASES

    Moderator: Syndi Guido, Director, Pennsylvania State Police
  • Lenny Deutchman, Vice President and General Counsel, Core Discovery
  • Jennifer Eakin, Supervisory Special Agent, FBI Academy/NCAV
  • Mike Levy, Chief, Cybercrimes - AUSA, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • Mike McTavish, Supervisor, Computer Crime Task Force, Pennsylvania State Police
  • Mark Rasch, Senior Vice President and Chief Security Council, Solutionary, Inc.


    • 5:30pm - 7:30pm RECEPTION sponsored through the generosity of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences

    Tuesday (Day 2) September 13, 2005

    7:30am - 8:30am REGISTRATION

    8:30am - 10:00am THE INVESTIGATION OF ABUSE: USE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND LAW IN DETECTION AND RESOLUTION

    Moderator: Rebecca Morgan, Boston Asset Management Faculty Chair in Elder Law; Director, Center for Excellence in Elder Law, Stetson University College of Law
  • Robert Block, MD, Professor and Daniel C. Plunket Chair, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
  • Laura Mosqueda, MD, Professor of Clinical Family Medicine, Ronald W. Reagan Endowed Chair in Geriatrics, University of California Irvine
  • Douglas H. Posey, MD, Assistant Medical Examiner, Georgia Bureau of Investigation
  • Richard E. Powers, MD, Director, Bureau of Geriatric Psychiatry; Associate Professor of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham


    • 10:00am - 10:30am BREAK

    10:30am - 12:00pm ENSURING ACCURACY AND RELIABILITY IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    Moderator: Ken Melson, First Assistant United States Attorney - U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia
  • The Honorable Elizabeth Jenkins, Federal Magistrate Judge, Middle District Florida
  • Paul Giannelli, Law Professor, Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Susan Haack, Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Law, University of Miami
  • Carl Selavka, Ph.D., Director, Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory


    • 12:00pm - 1:30pm LUNCH SESSION
    Michael R. Bromwich, Independent Investigator, Houston Police Department Crime Laboratory and Property Room

    1:30pm - 5:00pm BALANCING INFORMATION SHARING AND PRIVACY CONCERNS

    Moderator: Erin Kenneally, Forensic Analyst, Supercomputer Center, University of California San Diego
  • Susan F. Brinkley, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Criminology, The University of Tampa
  • Donna Bucella, Director, Terrorist Screening Center/FBI
  • Stephen Henderson, Associate Professor of Law, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
  • Major Frank Pawlowski, Director, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
  • Adam Shostack, CTO, Informed Security, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Chris Slobogin, Professor of Law, Stephen C. O'Connell Chair, University of Florida


    • Wednesday (Day 3) September 14, 2005

    7:30am - 8:30am REGISTRATION

    8:30am - 10:30am EMERGING LEGAL ISSUES with SCIENCE AND POLICE INVESTIGATION TOOLS

    Moderators: Jules Epstein, Visiting Professor of Law – Widener Law School, Delaware, and Norman Gahn, Assistant District Attorney – Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
  • Maj. George Cadavid, Police Major Internal Affairs Division, City of Miami Police Department
  • Dr. Steven Clark, Professor of Psychology, University of California Riverside
  • Ron Eisenberg, Assistant District Attorney, District Attorney's Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Andrew Vail, Jenner & Block LLP, Chicago, Illinois
  • Lt. William Wynn, Major Crimes Division, Philadelphia Police Department


    • 10:30am - 11:00am BREAK

    11:00am - 12:30pm IMPACT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

    Moderator: Susan Johns, Bureau Chief Region 1, Division of Forensic Sciences, Illinois State Police
  • Mark Dale, Interim Director, N.E. Regional Forensic Institute, University of Albany
  • Sgt. Gregory Hoffman, City of Chicago Police Department
  • Joe Peterson, Acting Head Department of Criminal Justice, University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Carl Selavka, Ph.D., Director, Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory


    • 12:30pm CLOSING REMARKS

    CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES:

  • Early Registration: $200 (Early registration deadline is August 15, 2005)
  • Registration (After August 15th): $250
  • Daily Registration: $100
  • Student Registration (with valid student ID): $75


    • ONLINE REGISTRATION: www.ilj.org/ncstl

    LODGING
    The Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club is offering the prevailing government per diem rate on single/double sleeping rooms. To make your reservations, contact the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club at 888-303-4430. Be sure to mention the conference name and date to get the special conference rate. You may reach the hotel website, Renaissance Vinoy Resort. The deadline to make hotel reservations is Monday, August 15, 2005.

    Please contact Andrea Williams at andrea@ilj.org or 703-684-5300 with any questions regarding conference logistics.

    Restaurant suggestions: