Forensic Justice Institute 2026

  • Webcast seminar
  • OnDemand seminar
  • Criminal Law
Up to 8.0 Credit Hours
View schedule and faculty
Forensic Justice Institute 2026

Co-produced with the Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences (CIFS)

Truth be told

Forensic evidence can be persuasive, but sometimes the certainty projected in the courtroom exceeds what science truly supports. A conclusion delivered too confidently, a probability presented without context, or a detail interpreted too narrowly can influence how the judge and jury understand a case. Even when unintentional, these moments can significantly alter decisions, leading to profound consequences for the accused. Attorneys who can distinguish between supported and unsupported scientific claims are better positioned to keep the record grounded in reliable evidence and achieve more just outcomes.

The Forensic Justice Institute 2026 gives you the knowledge to do exactly that. This one-day program brings together renowned forensic specialists and criminal law practitioners to help you analyze, question, and apply scientific evidence with clarity and precision, not bias.

8:25 am
Welcome and Opening Remarks

Katherine H. Judson

8:30 am
Watching the Watchers: Understanding the State of Digital Surveillance

Erin Nagy

9:30 am
Accident Reconstruction

Stephen Hanko, Jeffrey J. Peterson

  • When is accident reconstruction needed?
  • What are the different types of cases and how does that affect the reconstruction process?
  • What are important things to consider when preserving the evidence?
10:30 am
Break
10:45 am
The Role of the Coroner, Medical Examiner and Consulting Forensic Pathologist in a Death Investigation

Dr. Lindsey C. Thomas

  • What are the laws in Wisconsin about coroners and medical examiners and what is the importance of the independence of medical examiners and coroners?
  • To what degree do medical examiners and coroners rely on context (e.g., police reports of the circumstances in which a body was discovered)
  • How does the role of the consulting forensic pathologist differ from that of the original coroner, medical examiner, or pathologist who did the autopsy?
  • What information does the consulting forensic pathologist need?
  • In a general way, what can a consulting forensic pathologist provide in reviewing the death investigation that has been completed in a case?
11:45 am
Lunch Break
12:45 pm
Challenging the Admissibility of Firearms Identification Evidence

Janis C. Puracal

  • How do we define the “relevant scientific community” that courts should hear from on the validity of firearms identification?
  • What does the relevant scientific community have to say about the validity of firearms identification (from meta-analyses and case law)?
  • How do we explain the lack of scientific validation to our judge at an admissibility hearing?
1:45 pm
Understanding Manner of Death Testimony

Katherine H. Judson

  • Understand the role of medical examiners and determinations of cause and manner of death
  • Understand the challenges and pitfalls related to manner of death determinations
  • Understand what to do in cases where manner of death determinations are controversial and possibly misleading
  • Understand the limits of pathology testimony and when you should challenge pathology opinions
2:45 pm
Break
3:00 pm
Introduction to Statistics for Forensic Science

Dr. Claudia Solís-Lemus

  • Explain what are probabilities and how they are computed in practice
  • Select the correct probability rule depending on the situation: product rule, addition rule or conditional probabilities rule
  • Describe the main fallacies when interpreting probabilities
4:00 pm
What is AI? Leveraging Technology in Criminal Cases, Discovery and Beyond

Emily J. Prokesch

  • Introduction to key terms and concepts
  • Introduction to common AI tools and a suggested approach to using them
  • Application to a case study on discovery using AI
5:00 pm
Institute Concludes

Program Chair and Presenters

8 total
Katherine H. Judson, Chair
Center for Integrity in Forensic Science · Madison, WI
Stephen L. Hanko
Skogen Engineering Group Inc. · Fitchburg
State Public Defenders Office
Jeffrey J. Peterson
Skogen Engineering Group Inc. · Fitchburg
Emily J. Prokesch
Columbia Law School · New York, NY
Janis C. Puracal
Forensic Justice Project · Portland, OR
Claudia Solís-Lemus
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Statistics · Madison
Lindsey C. Thomas
TrueNorth Forensic Pathology · Madison

  • Strengthen the fairness, accuracy, and integrity of the cases you present or defend
  • Recognize weak or overstated scientific claims or methods before they influence case strategy or trial outcomes
  • Improve your ability to explain complex or technical evidence to judges and juries in clear, persuasive terms
  • Identify when additional testing, consultation, or independent review could change the evidentiary picture
  • Apply science-based strategies when preparing or cross-examining forensic experts
  • Reduce the risk of relying on incomplete or faulty forensic conclusions
  • Criminal defense lawyers
  • Prosecutors
  • Criminal appeals lawyers
  • Judges in criminal cases
  • Appellate court judges
  • Law students
  • Paralegals

Book Bonus!

The Wisconsin Rules of Evidence: A Courtroom Handbook
Save 15% on The Wisconsin Rules of Evidence: A Courtroom Handbook.* This must-have courtroom companion puts the rules of evidence at your command during trial. Use discount code IN0237 when you order online or by calling (800) 728-7788.

*Discount applies to both print and digital Books Unbound editions of this title and cannot be applied to previous purchases. Offer valid through 12/31/27. For Books Unbound users, discount may be applied to purchase of individual Books Unbound title only and may not be used on the purchase of libraries. Discount cannot be combined with any other offers.

CIFS LogoThe Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences (CIFS) is the first non-profit in the U.S. to bring exclusive focus to improvement of the reliability and safety of criminal prosecutions by strengthening the forensic sciences. Its goals span legislation, all facets of the judicial system, and experiential education of tomorrow’s lawyers and scientists.

Sponsored by

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