Legal Resources
Critical Reading
To prepare our clients for courtroom testimony,
we recommend that all attorneys read the article
Holland MM and Parsons TJ (1999) Mitochondrial
DNA sequence analysis: validation and use for
forensic casework. Forensic Science Review 11:21-50.
We will then discuss the articles with
you in depth to prepare for trial. There is
no charge for any phone consultation of this
type.
We also recommend an online mtDNA tutorial,
which can be found as a separate module within
an interactive tutorial titled "Principles
of Forensic DNA of Officers of the Court"
at http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/principles-of-forensic-dna-for-officers-of-the-court.html.
Mitochondrial DNA Databases
A mitochondrial DNA database for North America
is found at empop.org. This excellent database
is maintained by The Institute for Legal Medicine,
Medical University of Innsbruck. http://empop.org
Statistical Calculations
For an introduction to the calculations and
their intrepretation, read the article Holland
MM and Parsons TJ (1999) Mitochondrial DNA sequence
analysis: validation and use for forensic casework.
Forensic Science Review 11:21-50.
Previous Courtroom Rulings
The following link will connect the user to
previous written courtroom rulings on mitochondrial
DNA at both the state and federal level. www.denverda.org/
Past and Current Mitotyping staff members
have testified in the following states:
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Bahamas, California,
Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina,
North Dakota,Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington,
and West Virginia.
We have testified in admissibility proceedings
(Daubert/Frye/Harper/Rimmasch) in California,
Washington, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New
York, Colorado, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and in three
federal jurisdictions (District of Columbia;
New York City; Columbus, Ohio).
Testimony Foundation Questions
We have provided a basic set of foundation questions
for mitochondrial DNA testimony. Cases will
have different requirements, so we encourage
website viewers to adapt these questions to
their needs.
Jury Education
Jury education is critical when this technology
is presented in court. Mitotyping uses five
basic overhead transparencies/slides during
testimony for jury education (transparencies
courtesy of the FBI's DNA Unit II). A
basic tutorial takes about 10 minutes and emphasizes
the differences between mitochondrial and nuclear
DNA typing.
Download
Mitochondrial DNA Testimony Questions
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