Monday, March 31, 2003

Fourth Circuit upholds fingerprint and handwriting evidence under Daubert

Today the Fourth Circuit in this opinion by Judge King joined by Chief Judge Wilkins with Judge Michael dissenting upheld the admissibility in a criminal case of expert analysis of fingerprints and handwriting under the Daubert standard. Judge Michael wrote in dissent that the government did not make the necessary showing to meet the requirements of Daubert, while acknowledging that he was not saying that such a showing could not be made.

Also today: Judge Michael wrote this opinion for another panel which reversed Judge Jackson of the E.D. Va. on the issue of whether lying about gun offenses is a punishable offense under the new statutes governing the penalties for lying to get a job as an airport employee.

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