As a Lubbock DWI attorney I have always tried to increase my scientific education to help better defend my clients. I enjoy the scientific aspect of DWI defense. I certainly enjoy being able to use science, true science, to show that much of what the government “sells” the public as science has no or little backing in the scientific community.
I’m excited to say that today I have been accepted into the University of Florida Master of Science in Forensic Toxicology program. Don’t worry I won’t be leaving Lubbock as most of the classes are thru the distance learning program. Thus I can continue to do what I love to do, defend citizens accused of a crime but I can also continue to increase my education and scientific foundation.
The Forensic Toxicology focuses on general and advanced principles of toxicology, forensic toxicology and drug metabolism providing a strong foundation in analytical techniques, pharmacokinetics, drug elimination and toxicology. Modules in forensic pharmacology, doping control, postmortem toxicology, expert testimony and QA/QC procedures are also featured.
Some of the areas of study will include:
Drug Biotransformation & Molecular Mechanisms of Toxicity; Forensic Toxicology I and II;General Toxicology; Laboratory QA/QC; and Scientific Evidence and Statistics.
DWI defense has really become a defense, attack and understanding of science. I have had courts tell me that DWI trial are the most complicated because of the scientific issues involved. True DWI defense at least in Lubbock and the area of my practice is not always where it should be. I am not trying to pick on lawyers but some lawyers who handle DWI’s don’t understand or bother to try and understand the science involved. If your case involves so called “field sobriety tests” then your lawyer should have taken the same classes the police officer did so he or she knows how to administer the tests and how to grade the officer to see if the officer did them correctly. If you took a breath test, your lawyer should understand the breath test machine, have taken training classes in the science behind the breath test machine and maybe even own a breath test machine. If you took a blood test, don’t you want somebody who has been thru a gas chromatography class and who has some basic understanding of the science behind the blood test?
I can’t wait for the Summer session to start, as they say knowledge is power.
