Showing posts with label evidence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label evidence. Show all posts

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Best Oath Ever?

The subject of oaths and alternative oaths can make for an interesting evidence class. But the 19th century Burmese oath linked at Lowering the Bar is much better than any oaths modern Americans have attempted to use in court. It is almost 400 words long, it is filled with statements like "In the midst of not speaking truth, may I be taken with vomiting clotted black blood, and suddenly die before the assembled people," it lists various animals that should attack the untruthful, and it ends with a tea ceremony.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Criminal Law Resources: Fingerprint Evidence Challenges

Fingerprint analysis has been around since the 19th Century and we assume that if the police can get fingerprints, they are good identification. Actually the science is not is not as accurate as assumed and professionals have been debating the reliability and admissibility of fingerprint evidence for a number of years. This guide - Criminal Law Resources: Fingerprint Evidence Challenges - gives a good overview of the discussion. It also provides links to the government agencies and study groups that developed standards for fingerprint collection and analysis. These groups have also reviewed issues concerning its reliability.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat