'Light A Fire And Curse the Darkness—Where Does the Forensic Science Buck Stop?' topic of Distinguished Alumnus Lecture
October 2, 2017
Judge Roderick T. Kennedy ’80 is the recipient of the 2017 College of Law Distinguished Alumni Award. He will be honored throughout Homecoming weekend, Oct. 6-8, 2017.
As part of his visit to the University he will deliver a lecture in the College’s Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series on Thursday, Oct. 5, at noon in the Law Center’s McQuade Law Auditorium.
The lecture titled "Light A Fire And Curse the Darkness—Where Does the Forensic Science Buck Stop?” will address two new law review articles that argue that the revolution in the admission of scientific and expert evidence promised by Daubert v. Merrill Dow Pharmaceuticals in 1993 has been mostly available in civil court only, while criminal courts have either not rigorously attended to their Daubert “gatekeeping” duties, or ignored rigorous admissibility criteria for forensic science evidence entirely.
Judge Kennedy also will reflect on his commitment during his 36-year career in the law to educating judges, lawyers, and scientists to improve the quality of science in court, and to fighting to maintain high standards for judicial decisions regarding scientific and technical evidence.
Kennedy recently retired from the New Mexico Court of Appeals after serving 16 years on the bench, two of those years as chief judge. The New Mexico Court of Appeals is comprised of 10 judges and serves the entire State of New Mexico. Kennedy has written and presented extensively in the areas of expert testimony, scientific evidence, and forensic evidence.
The lecture is free and open to the public. Food and beverages will be provided.