Lawyers unlock secrets of DNA evidence
In 1999 an Assistant District Attorney of Monroe County, N.Y., had just completed a trial that involved extensive amounts of DNA evidence. By chance at a holiday party that year, he met Douglas Merrill, Director of CBET, and explained that lawyers more and more were being confronted with DNA evidence, and needed to better understand the science of DNA in order to interpret crime lab reports, evaluate testimony and cross-examine witnesses.
The two then developed the idea of offering a CBET continuing education course in DNA and the Law. They asked the Monroe County Bar Association to be the accrediting agency.
CBET can develop and deliver courses for lawyers, medical practitioners and educators, but must partner with an accrediting agency for attendees to gain the continuing education credits recognized by their professions.
The Monroe County Bar Association was glad to sponsor the 4-hour course, developed by Dr. Merrill and Dr. Gary Skuse, (See Close-up: Profile of Dr. Gary Skuse), which was attended to great acclaim by roughly 50 local attorneys. When word got out, the New York State Defenders Association asked CBET to present an additional workshop, “DNA: Biology and Technology,” at its annual conference attended by hundreds of attorneys.
Afterward the managing attorney of the Defenders Association wrote to CBET: “I wanted to thank you for your excellent DNA lectures at our Annual Meeting and Conference. You did what I hoped you would, that is, explain in very basic terms the biology of DNA.”