Emerging Issues in Expert Evidence
Date: Thursday 30 August
Time:
Session 1: 3.30-5.00pm
Session 2: 5.30-7.00pm (followed by drinks and canapés).
You may attend either or both sessions.
Venue: Supreme Court Library Queensland, Level 12, 415 George St, Brisbane (location)
Cost: This is a free event.
Registration: Register online by Friday 17 August
Invalid or misleading expert evidence has been implicated in many wrongful convictions around the world. Forensic scientific expertise, in particular, is widely misunderstood. Despite being portrayed as highly certain and objective on television shows like CSI, many forensic scientific practices are error-prone.
Importantly, current research suggests that legal doctrinal changes alone have not prevented invalid expert evidence from impacting legal decisions. As a result, this colloquium takes an interdisciplinary approach, presenting emerging issues from the perspective of barristers, academics, forensic scientists, and psychologists. The speakers will discuss findings on topics such as: the psychology of expertise, cognitive bias, forensic scientific practices, and legal safeguards (e.g., cross-examination, judicial directions, exclusionary rules).
Speakers include:
- The Honourable Justice Peter Applegarth, Supreme Court of Queensland
- Dr Kaye Ballantyne, Forensic Services Centre, Victoria Police
- Benjamin Dighton, 8 Petrie Terrace Chambers
- Professor David Hamer, The University of Sydney
- Kathryn McMillan QC, Quay 11 Chambers; TC Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland
- Mehera San Roque, University of New South Wales
- Dr Rachel Searston, University of Adelaide
Hosted by Dr Caitlin Goss & Dr Jason Chin
Read the summary of this event.