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18 Jud. Div. Rec. 1 (2014-2015)

handle is hein.aba/judrc0018 and id is 1 raw text is: U hanks for allowing me the opportunity to serve as Judicial Division Chair for the 2014-2015 associa- tion year. As a result of Chief Justice Mark Martin's great work as last year's chair the Division is do- ing very well. As you may remember Chief Justice Martin worked with other leaders of the ABA to improve funding for our courts. In addition to continuing the JD's ongoing efforts to both improve perceptions ofjustice and increase diversity in the judiciary, my plan for this year is to focus on the problems of forensic science in the criminal justice system. As a re- sult of Congressional action, several committees of the National Academy of Science completed an exhaustive study of the issue and published a report on their conclu- sions in 2009. This report, titled STRENGTHENING FORENSIC SCIENCE IN THE UNITED STATES: A PATH FORWARD, is available for free at http://vww.nap.edu/ catalog/ 12589.itml. The essence of their conclusion is that, other than DNA, all of the other forensic sciences currently being used in the criminal justice system do not have the kind of scientific support that would normally allow their use as evidence. Among the types of forensic science in the criminal justice system that fit in that unsupported category are the following: * fingerprints . firearms examination * toolmarks * bite marks * impressions (tires, footwear) * bloodstain pattern analysis * handwriting * hair The report also contained many recommendations for changes in the way forensic science is used in the criminal justice system. Our plan is to hold a hearing at the 2015 ABA Midyear Meeting, in Houston, to consider whether there have been im- provements with the use of forensic science in the criminal justice system since the report was published five years ago. Following that, we plan to hold a symposium in conjunction with a law school to consider what steps can be taken to improve the use of forensic science in the criminal justice system. Finally, we will present a program at the 2015 Annual Meeting in Chicago to develop plans on what the ABA can do to improve the use of forensic science in the criminal justice system. If you would like to be involved in this effort or if you have questions or suggestions about it please let the chair of the Division's Forensic Science Committee, Judge Stephanie

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