ANSI Legal Issues Forum: Forensic Standards and Conformity Assessment
10 am – 3 pm ET
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Pavilion Room
This Spring’s Legal Issues Forum addressed the unique interplay between forensic standards, conformity assessment, and the law. The event kicked off with a keynote address by Judge Pamela King, District Court Judge, Minnesota’s 3rd Judicial District.
The first panel of forensic science experts discussed how performance can be assessed against forensic standards from the lab perspective. The experts explored both the history and current state of forensic standards as well as the real-world impact of accreditation on the field. Moderated by Dr. Mary McKiel, ANSI Board Vice Chair and Standards Consultant with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences – Academy Standards Board, panelists included: Linda Jackson, Director, Virginia Department of Forensic Sciences; Scott Oulton, Associate Deputy Assistant Administrator, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Office of Forensic Sciences; Brad Putnam, Senior Director of Accreditation, Forensics, ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB); and Peter Stout, President and CEO, Houston Forensic Science Center, LLC.
The second panel of legal experts addressed the role of forensic standards in the administration of justice, the forensic standards currently used in the courtroom, and the profound impact these standards (and the evidence to which they apply) can have on the outcome of cases in our judicial system. Moderated by Pamela Sale, Vice President, Forensics at ANAB, panelists included: Sarah Chu, Senior Advisor on Forensic Science Policy, Innocence Project; Ted Hunt, Special Counsel - Science and Technology Branch, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Terri Rosenblatt, Chief of Post-Conviction Justice Unit, Manhattan District Attorney's Office; and Raymond Valerio, Assistant District Attorney and Director of Forensic Sciences, Office of the Queens County District Attorney.
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See ANSI News Article
U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day (2021 theme)
5:30 pm – 9 pm ET
Fairmont Washington
The U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day (WSD) with the theme, Standards for Sustainable Development Goals (originally scheduled for October 2021), was held as an in-person event at the Fairmont Washington on May 19. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) served as the WSD administrating organization for this event.
The U.S. Celebration of WSD is an annual event recognizing the critical role of various stakeholders across the standards community, including business leaders, industry, academia, and government. The event included the presentation of the Ronald H. Brown Standards Leadership award to Ernest Grant, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, current president of the American Nurses Association, as well as the announcement of the winners of the WSD Paper Competition.
See ANSI News Article