Forensic Confirmation Bias: Do Jurors Discount Examiners Who Were Exposed to Task-Irrelevant Information?*†

Knowledge of task-irrelevant information influences judgments of forensic science evidence and thereby undermines their probative value (i.e., forensic confirmation bias). The current studies tested whether laypeople discount the opinion of a forensic examiner who had a priori knowledge of biasing information (i.e., a defendant's confession) that could have influenced his opinion. In three experiments, laypeople (N = 765) read and evaluated a trial summary which, for some, included testimony from a forensic examiner who was either unaware or aware of the defendant's confession, and either denied or admitted that it could have impacted his opinion. When the examiner admitted that the confession could have influenced his opinion, laypeople generally discounted his testimony, as evidenced by their verdicts and other ratings. However, when the examiner denied being vulnerable to bias, laypeople tended to believe him—and they weighted his testimony as strongly as that of the confession-unaware examiner. In short, laypeople generally failed to recognize the superiority of forensic science judgments made by context-blind examiners, and they instead trusted examiners who claimed to be impervious to bias. As such, our findings highlight the value of implementing context management procedures in forensic laboratories so as not to mislead fact-finders.     

疫学因果关系及其证明

侵权法有关因果关系的一般理论有助于从总体上理解法律上的因果关系的性质与特征,却很难将其直接适用于对特定侵权类型的因果关系判断.疫学因果关系理论对司法审判实践中如何认定特定类型的环境侵权因果关系具有重要的指导意义,却未受到我国理论界的重视.将疫学型环境侵权的因果关系分为一般因与特定因,不但可以从理论上更为清晰地界定此类侵权因果关系的特征,还可以为在司法审判实践中判断因果关系是否存在提供参考框架.证明一般因存在与否的关键证据为流行病学证据,而证明特定因存在与否的证据则包括暴露学、临床医学、病理学等科学证据以及其他的一般证据.在对科学证据进行司法审查的基础上,结合其他证据和具体案情对因果关系作出司法判断,才有可能对疫学型环境侵权案件作出合理判决.     

Toluene-Impaired Drivers: Behavioral Observations, Impairment Assessment, and Toxicological Findings

Abstract:  Toluene is an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent frequently abused for its euphoric and intoxicating properties. This report describes a series of six cases involving drivers arrested for driving under the influence who subsequently tested positive for toluene. Case data including driving behavior, physiological signs and symptoms, evidence of impairment, and toxicology findings were reviewed. Blood toluene concentrations in the drivers ranged from 12 to 45 mg/L (median 23 mg/L, mean 25 mg/L, SD 12.1 mg/L). All drivers were determined to be intoxicated, and displayed symptoms including balance problems, confusion and disorientation, loss of coordination, and inability to follow instructions. They also displayed horizontal but not vertical nystagmus, elevated pulse and blood pressure, and lower body temperature. These findings are consistent with prior reports that subjects with blood toluene concentrations above 10 mg/L are invariably under the influence and their driving skills are affected.     

交通事故责任认定的证据法学分析

交通事故认定不仅关系到民事赔偿份额,更关系到刑法上罪与非罪的认定,因此具有重要意义。交通事故认定书作为准鉴定结论类证据,鉴定人员应具备专业素质,享有准入资质;鉴定机构应具有专门独立的性质,以实现鉴定结论的中立性、客观性,为交通事故处理提供高效、权威的司法保障。     

Considering forensic science: individual differences,opposing expert testimony and juror decision making

Two experimental studies examined the effect of opposing expert testimony on perceptions of the reliability of unvalidated forensic evidence (anthropometric facial comparison). In the first study argument skill and epistemological sophistication were included as measures of individual differences, whereas study two included scores on the Forensic Evidence Evaluation Bias Scale. In both studies participants were assigned to groups who heard: (1) no expert testimony, (2) prosecution expert testimony, or (3) prosecution and opposing expert testimony. Opposing expert testimony affected verdict choice, but this effect was mediated by perceptions of reliability of the initial forensic expert's method. There was no evidence for an effect on verdict or reliability ratings by argument skill or epistemology. In the second experiment, the same mediation effect was found, however scores on one subscale from the FEEBS and age also affected both verdict and methodological reliability. It was concluded that opposing expert testimony may inform jurors, but perceptions of the reliability of forensic evidence affect verdict, and age and bias towards forensic science influence perceptions of forensic evidence. Future research should investigate individual differences that may affect perception or bias towards forensic sciences under varying conditions of scientific reliability.     

我国心理测试结论的证据属性与定位

国外关于心理测试（测谎）结论的证据资格已得到确认,目前我国对心理测试机构、测试人员、测试对象、测试仪器、测试方法、测试环境、测试过程和测试结论等都做了程序性规定,标志着心理测试技术在国内正式进入了刑事科学技术专业序列,是对国内心理测试技术的一个全新定位。测试结论在证据的＂有限采用规则＂和补强证据的框架下,鉴于我国心理测试结论在证据价值方面存在诸多争议,＂有限采用规则＂对我国测试结论的规范使用有很好的借鉴意义。把测谎结论定位于补强证据可能会比较实用,可以辅助验证其他证据,尤其是验证证词的真伪,在我国司法领域具有广泛的应用价值。     

Mental Illness and Legal Fitness (Competence) to Stand Trial in New York State: Expert Opinion and Criminal Defendants' Psychiatric Symptoms,

Fitness to Stand Trial is a critical concept in the adjudication of justice‐involved persons. A retrospective study was conducted to examine criminal defendants' specific psychiatric symptoms and those symptoms' associations with expert opinions on Competence to Stand Trial. One hundred charts were reviewed: 50 Cases (opined as Not Fit) were compared against 50 Controls (opined as Fit) with respect to ratings on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). A significance level of 0.001 was selected a priori. Statistically significant differences were found in seven of the eighteen BPRS symptom constructs (with the highest differences in Conceptual Disorganization and Unusual Thought Content) and two of the four BPRS higher‐order syndrome factors (Thinking Disorder and Hostile‐Suspiciousness). Consistent with previous reports, psychotic symptoms are found in this study to be inversely associated with Fitness. Validity, reliability, and limitations of this study, as well as directions for future research, are discussed herein.     

以国际商事法庭为核心的我国“一站式”国际商事纠纷解决机制建设

我国提出建立诉讼、调解、仲裁有效衔接的多元化"一站式"国际商事纠纷解决机制。国际商事法庭作为该机制的核心不仅要扩张其管辖,还需要对调解和仲裁提供司法支持和监督,并深化国际商事专家委员会的职能。国际商事纠纷解决机制需要配套程序法的国际化,为此要引入国际化的商事调解,完善国际商事仲裁法律制度,民事诉讼法也要有所突破和创新,并在多双边层面推动国际商事调解协议和判决的跨境执行。     

Is China Losing its Appeal to Foreign Capital?

正CHINA,as an emerging economy,has experienced slowing economic growth since 2013.For the fi rst eight months of 2014,foreign direct investment(FDI)into non-financial sectors edged down 1.8percent from the same period in 2013.Certain domestic and overseas media have come to the conclusion that the frenzied infl ux of foreign capital into China is cooling down.But     

诉前自行鉴定行为的法律分析——从建设工程合同欠款纠纷中一方当事人诉前自行委托审计谈起

近年来,在建筑行业的工程建设合同欠款纠纷层出不断.在此类案件中,一方当事人自行委托造价咨询单位对工程竣工结算进行审计的情况时有发生,对于这种诉前自行委托而产生的审计报告在诉讼或仲裁过程中应当如何对待,一直是实务界争议不断的问题.本文从一方当事人诉前自行委托工程造价单位进行审计这一行为的定性入手,进而分析了诉前自行鉴定的结论在诉讼中的法律地位,并对仲裁程序中出现的有关问题进行了讨论.