The Supreme Court decision seemed to fly in the face of logic. Why wouldn’t an inmate be entitled to a scientific test to assure that everything was done beyond a reasonable doubt? Even if it frees 1 in 1,000 inmates or 1 in 10,000, that should be reason enough to give inmates the right to the tests. No one should serve time for a crime they didn’t commit. It’s not a conservative or liberal issue. It’s called Justice!
By The BLT: The Blog of LegalTimes
WASHINGTON — A day after the Supreme Court ruled defendants have no constitutional right to a review of DNA evidence in post-conviction proceedings, Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. underscored the Justice Department position that seeks to expand access to DNA evidence in the courts.
Addressing the 34th Annual D.C. Courts’ Judicial Conference today in Washington, Holder, the keynote speaker, spoke about the impact of technological advances on the administration of justice, and he vowed the Justice Department will embrace science and technology.
Law enforcement, Holder told the audience, which was brimming with local and federal judges, is placing “more emphasis on DNA evidence than ever before” in the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases.
“And we are mindful that DNA evidence can be used to exonerate those who are wrongfully charged,” Holder said today. “Our mission at the Justice Department is not simply to win cases. It is to do justice, and science and DNA can help us accomplish this.”
