Fifth Annual Forensic Science Summit for the Criminal Defense Bar
Presented by
The New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and the ACDL-NJ
March 25 – 26, 2025
Zoom Webinar hosted by US Legal
9.6 NJ CLE credits (1.2 Ethics) | 8 NY/PA CLE credits (1 Ethics)
Register now here
Full program here
Tuesday, March 25
Opening Remarks
Prescott Loveland, Assistant Public Defender, New Jersey Public DefenderKeynote Address: AI, Forensics, and Due Process
Brandon Garrett, Professor of Law and director of the Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke University School of LawLitigating ShotSpotter: Discovery, Daubert, and Constitutional Challenges
Mitha Nandagopalan, Staff Attorney, Innocence Project, Strategic Litigation UnitHow to Understand Cellphone Location Data in Your Case
Tom Beiser, Director, Cellular Forensics at LATRO Cellular Forensics LabBest Practices in Forensic Toxicology - Analysis and Interpretation
Sherri Kacinko, Ph.D., NMS Labs
Wednesday, March 26
Too Close for Comfort: AFIS searches, Close Non-Matches, And Quality Assurance In Latent Print Comparisons
Heidi Eldridge, Ph.D., Director of Crime Scene Investigations, Department of Forensic Science, George Washington UniversitySTRmix™ Discovery: No Number Please
Howard Baum, Ph.D., Baum Scientific ConsultingTibia Honest: The Pros and Pitfalls of Forensic Anthropology
Kimberlee Moran, Associate Teaching Professor & Director of Forensic Science, Rutgers UniversityHot Topics in Forensic Evidence in New Jersey
Chris Godin, Tamar Lerer, and Elayna Thompson, Forensic Science Unit, Office of the Public DefenderPresentation of the John Douard Award
The ACDL-NJ's History and Mission
The Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey (ACDL-NJ) was established in 1984 and has since become the primary organized voice for the criminal defense bar in New Jersey. The ACDL-NJ was formed, among other reasons, to respond to the continuing problems confronting criminal defense lawyers when they honestly, ethically, but zealously represent their clients; to protect and insure compliance with those individual rights guaranteed by the New Jersey and United States Constitutions; and to encourage cooperation among criminal defense lawyers engaged in the furtherance of those objectives. The criminal defense lawyer has a difficult job, which is poorly understood by the public and, on occasion, even by the courts. The ACDL-NJ's message to criminal defense lawyers has always been, and will continue to be: in your efforts to insure the basic rights and liberties of all people, you are not alone.
Message from the President
I am honored to be the President of the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey as it celebrates its 40th Anniversary. Our organization is an active, engaged group of more than 500 members across New Jersey, assisting each other to become effective advocates on behalf of criminal defendants, especially in difficult situations. The ACDL-NJ continues to make its voice heard in the New Jersey appellate courts as amicus curiae on behalf of the interests of the criminal defense bar and its clients in important matters. Our Lawyers Assistance Committee has successfully advocated on behalf of ACDL members in state and federal court, and our Legislation Committee has continued to monitor and weigh in on pending legislation affecting criminal defendants. The ACDL-NJ listserv enables members to reach out to our entire membership and pick the brains of the finest criminal defense lawyers in this State. In sum, there has never been a better time to become a member of the ACDL-NJ. If you are already a member and have suggestions about how to make the ACDL-NJ more useful to its members, please let us know.
- Jennifer Mara, ACDL-NJ President