论我国古代证人之作证责任

我国古代证人要履行到场、陈词和真实等义务,否则会被追摄、拷讯和问罪。这一方面确是保障了证人作证,但同时也易导致对证人的无端滋扰和恣意侵害。为此,实践中对司法官吏的这一权力又作了必要的限制。然而,这种限制还仅仅停留在对权力滥用的消极禁止上,并没有赋予证人以任何积极权利,从而无力实现对证人之有效保护,“畏证”、“避证”、“拒证”和“伪证”现象依然。对我们今天有警示和借鉴意义。     

Statistical Inference and Forensic Evidence: Evaluating a Bullet Lead Match

This experiment tested the ability of undergraduate mock jurors (N=295) to draw appropriate conclusions from statistical data on the diagnostic value of forensic evidence. Jurors read a summary of a homicide trial in which the key evidence was a bullet lead "match" that was either highly diagnostic, non-diagnostic, or of unknown diagnostic value. There was also a control condition in which the forensic "match" was not presented. The results indicate that jurors as a group used the statistics appropriately to distinguish diagnostic from non-diagnostic forensic evidence, giving considerable weight to the former and little or no weight to the latter. However, this effect was attributable to responses of a subset of jurors who expressed confidence in their ability to use statistical data. Jurors who lacked confidence in their statistical ability failed to distinguish highly diagnostic from non-diagnostic forensic evidence; they gave no weight to the forensic evidence regardless of its diagnostic value. Confident jurors also gave more weight to evidence of unknown diagnostic value. Theoretical and legal implications are discussed.     

Statistical Evidence for the Similarity of the Human Dentition

Abstract: Recent scrutiny of forensic science has focused on unreliability of expert witness testimony when based on statements of individuality. In bitemark analysis, assumptions regarding uniqueness of the dentition have been based on use of the product rule while ignoring correlation and nonuniformity of dental arrangement. To examine the effect of these factors, two separate sets of scanned dental models (n = 172 and n = 344) were measured and statistically tested to determine match rates. Results were compared to those of a prior study. Seven and 16 matches of the six anterior lower teeth were found in the respective data sets. Correlations and nonuniform distributions of tooth positions were observed. Simulation tests were performed to verify results. Results indicate that given experimental measurement parameters, statements of dental uniqueness with respect to bitemark analysis in an open population are unsupportable and that use of the product rule is inappropriate.     

The Limits of the Preponderance of the Evidence Standard: Justifiably Naked Statistical Evidence and Multiple Causation

The preponderance-of-the-evidence standard usually is understood to mean that the plaintiff must show that the probability that the defendant is in fact liable exceeds 1/2. Several commentators and at least one court have suggested that in some situations it may be preferable to make each defendant pay plaintiff's damages discounted by the probability that the defendant in question is in fact liable. This article analyzes these and other decision rules from the standpoint of statistical decision theory. It argues that in most cases involving only one potential defendant, the conventional interpretation of the preponderance standard is appropriate, but it notes an important exception. The article also considers cases involving many defendants, only one of whom could have caused the injury to plaintiff. It argues that ordinarily the single defendant most likely to have been responsible should be liable for all the damages, even when the probability associated with this defendant is less than 1/2. At the same time, it identifies certain multiple-defendant cases in which the rule that weights each defendant's damages by the probability of that defendant's liability should apply.     

统计学方法在微量物证数据处理中的应用

统计学方法在微量物证理化检验工作中受到越来越多的重视,采用有效的统计学方法对检验数据进行分析,不仅能够深度挖掘复杂数据背后信息,还能不断提高数据的应用价值和证据本身的证据价值。本文对目前微量物证领域常用统计学方法进行归纳总结,简要介绍了常用统计方法的应用,对各类方法优缺点进行说明。最后,对法庭科学工作者都比较感兴趣的贝叶斯统计与似然比方法在理化检验数据统计分析中的应用进行了介绍。     

论非法证据排除规则中口供合法性的证明责任

我国刑事诉讼的证明对象是犯罪构成要件事实,对犯罪构成要件事实的证明由控诉方承担证明责任,被告方只承担提供证据责任;口供的合法性是犯罪构成事实附带的“争执中的事实”,我国犯罪构成的封闭型结构决定了控诉方应当对此承担证明责任;犯罪构成事实的证明责任分配不仅决定着非法证据排除规则的证明责任分配,犯罪构成事实的证明标准还决定了非法证据排除规则的证明标准,控诉方对口供具备合法性的证明应当达到排除合理怀疑的程度。     

Arthur Ripstein,Equality, Responsibility,and the Law

Law and Philosophy -     

Process, Responsibility and Inclusion in EU Constitutionalism

This paper it looks at some of the normative questions which frame debates about the EU constitutional architecture. Its main objective is to identify the core facets of a 'responsible and inclusive EU constitutionalism', and to argue for a focus on process, freedom, fairness and democracy as well as formal constitution–building within the debates inside and outside the Convention running up to the Intergovernmental Conference anticipated for 2003/2004. A model using the work of Canadian political theorist James Tully is constructed. The paper applies this framework in order to analyse some aspects of the work of the Convention on the Future of the Union, looking especially at questions of autonomy, representativity, internal dynamics, deliberation, receptiveness, and decision–making. The interim conclusion is drawn that the Convention method contains within itself the seeds of a critical and reflexive approach to EU constitutionalism.     

浅谈民事诉讼举证责任的分担规则

民事诉讼举证责任的分担规则包括一般规则和特殊规则。一般规则是民事诉讼中最常用的，其中“主张者举证”是最基本的分担规则，而理论上通用的举证规则则是法律要件事实分类说。特殊规则仅适用于特殊性质的民事案件，是对一般规则的必要补充，它包括举证责任倒置规则公平和诚实信用规则。     

会计责任与审计责任之比较

审计责任和会计责任是注册会计师市计业务中常用的两个概念,在注册会计师事业迅速发展的今天,进一步分清 两者的区别和联系,合理界定各自的责任范围,对于发挥审计在现代经济管理中的积极作用有重要的现实意义。 从两者的内涵、区别以及实际工作中应注意的问题等方面进行了分析。     

数字证据、电子证据、科学证据、电子记录概念比较分析

与数字证据相关的概念很多,但它们的内涵和外延存在一定差异,从提出概念的出发点、载体、表现形式、研究范围等角度分析数字证据、电子证据、科学证据、电子记录等概念的差异,并进一步提出对数字证据进行专门研究的科学性和必要性。     

论公司社会责任:内涵、外延和实现机制

公司社会责任指的是公司在实现公司利益最大化的首要价值目标之外应考虑其利益相关者的利益,并承担促进社会的可持续发展的责任。公司社会责任是公司在能够实现其价值持续增长和企业持续存在的前提下承担的利益相关者责任和社会可持续发展责任。公司社会责任包括三个层面,即守法层面上的社会责任、道德义务层面上的社会责任和道德理想层面上的社会责任。公司社会责任可以通过完善立法和道德规则法律化、制定自治规则和认证标准,以及借助政策、舆论和非政府组织运动的引导与监督等路径实现。     

Science,Evidence and Logic

Bernard Robertson and G.A. Vignaux, Interpreting Evidence: Evaluating Forensic Science in the Courtroom , Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 1995, xxi + 240 pp, hb £24.95.     

Repainting the Rabbithole: Law,Science, Truth and Responsibility

Law and Critique - An exploration of the connections between law, science, and truth, this paper argues that ‘truth’ is an evolving, rather than fixed, concept. It is a human creation,...