CLE Online

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

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