Advanced Securities for LSS & Junior Lawyer


Course Date: February 25, 2005

Welcome

Dr. Alan McHughen — University of California, Riverside, CA

Introduction and Overview

  • historic development of science in the courts
  • modern experience, educational deficits
  • what every lawyer needs to know: scientific proof, genetics, and neurobiology
  • overview of “coming attractions”

Justice Thomas E. Hollenhorst — Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, Riverside, CA

Science and Scientists

  • science in everyday life
  • scientific illiteracy and the consequences of scientific illiteracy
  • foundations of science: the scientific method(s)
  • contrasting legal and scientific cultures
  • distinguishing science from pseudoscience
  • features of science and scientists
  • hypotheses
  • testing and constructing models
  • evidence
  • progress of knowledge

Dr. Alan McHughen — University of California, Riverside, CA

Breakout Groups—Scenario #1: "The Chosen One" or "Saviour Baby"

Networking Break

Bamboozled by Statistics?

  • why stats?  It’s rarely black or white
  • probability and normal distributions
  • misapplication of statistical data
  • prosecutor’s fallacy
  • Meadow’s Law
  • Sally Clark
  • People v. Collins
  • rare events: relative vs. absolute
  • Bayes’ Theorem
  • likelihood ratio
  • DNA profiling
  • use and abuse of statistics
  • caveats

Dr. Colin Rasmussen, LLB — Barrister & Solicitor, Patent Agent, Rasmussen Rasmussen & Charowsky - LPC, Colton, CA

Lunch (on your own)

Genetics and Genomics

  • basics of DNA and genetics
  • DNA as a recipe book
  • the human genome
  • a closer look at chromosome 11
  • of mice and men: insulin
  • an obesity gene on Chr 16?
  • synteny and polymorphisms
  • forensic DNA: SNiP, STRs AND Y-STRs
  • mtDNA
  • an angiosperm witness for the prosecution

Dr. Alan McHughen — University of California, Riverside, CA

Breakout Groups—Scenario #2: "DNA Analysis" or "Hand Over Your DNA"

Networking Break 

Neurobiology and Memory

  • what is neuroscience?
  • why do legal professionals need to know about neuroscience?
  • how do we study neuroscience?—from large iron rods to microscopic electrodes
  • what rodents tell us about memory
  • what H.M. told us about memory
  • memory comes in different flavors
  • factors that affect memory: drugs, alcohol, and satanic rituals
  • the aging brain—a growing societal concern
  • can we “see” memory in the brain?—an introduction to neuroimaging

Dr. Judy Illes — Professor of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine AND Faculty, Brain Research Centre, National Core for Neuroethics, University of BC, Vancouver
Dr. Julie Robillard — Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, National Core for Neuroethics, University of BC, Vancouver

Discussion and Wrap-Up

Dr. Alan McHughen — University of California, Riverside, CA
Dr. Judy Illes — Professor of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine AND Faculty, Brain Research Centre, National Core for Neuroethics, University of BC, Vancouver
Dr. Colin Rasmussen, LLB — Barrister & Solicitor, Patent Agent, Rasmussen Rasmussen & Charowsky - LPC, Colton, CA
Dr. Julie Robillard — Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, National Core for Neuroethics, University of BC, Vancouver

Concluding Remarks

Dr. Alan McHughen — University of California, Riverside, CA