Forensic Toxicology Blog
Evidence-based articles about toxicology, expert testimony, legal developments, alcohol, drugs, and forensic testing.
Age, Balance, and Field-Sobriety Evidence: What Population Research Can Show
Age-related balance research helps frame evidence review, but population averages do not diagnose impairment or establish why one person swayed.
Kratom Cardiac Arrest and the Limits of a Mitragynine Blood Level
A 500 µg/L mitragynine result in a survived cardiac arrest illustrates why concentration, treatment, specimen timing, and alternative causes matter.
California Racial Justice Act in Juvenile Court (2026): JV-720 Forms, Procedure, and Service Rules
A 2026 practitioner guide to California Racial Justice Act claims in juvenile court, including JV-720 through JV-723, the July 1 form revisions, counsel, discovery, hearings, and AB 1071 service requirements.
California Racial Justice Act Motion Checklist (2026): Evidence, Discovery, Service, Hearings, and Remedies
A 2026 California Racial Justice Act workflow for identifying the theory, preserving the record, seeking discovery, handling service, building comparator evidence, and matching the requested remedy to Penal Code § 745.
People v. Chhuon & Pan (2026): RJA Cultural Stereotypes, Context, and Harmless Error
California Supreme Court guidance on RJA cultural-stereotype claims, context, defendant-directed bias, harmless error, and a significant 4-3 split.
People v. Haddock (2026): RJA Evidence and Discovery
People v. Haddock (2026) explains how racially charged evidence can support a California Racial Justice Act claim and clarifies the standards for prima facie review and discovery.
In re Pride (2026): RJA Counsel and Discovery Standards
In re Pride (2026) clarifies the low threshold for appointed counsel and the separate good-cause standard for discovery under California’s Racial Justice Act.
In re Haney (2026): Racial Justice Act Discovery Before a Habeas Petition
In re Haney clarifies that California Racial Justice Act habeas petitioners may seek Penal Code section 745(d) discovery before filing a petition and without first making a prima facie showing.
Postmortem Alcohol Evidence: A Litigation Records and Source-Attribution Checklist
A litigation-focused guide to postmortem alcohol evidence, including specimen source, preservation, alternative matrices, biomarkers, higher alcohols, laboratory records, and questions for experts.
Montes v. Superior Court (2026): Jury-Selection Notes and Postconviction Discovery Under Penal Code § 1054.9
Montes v. Superior Court (2026) explains postconviction access to prosecution jury-selection notes under Penal Code § 1054.9 without a prima facie Batson/Wheeler showing.
People v. Williams (2026): Racial Justice Act Prima Facie Showings, Statistics, and Evidentiary Hearings
People v. Williams (2026) explains the prima facie threshold for Penal Code § 745 hearings and why generalized statistics or weak comparators may be insufficient.
California Racial Justice Act Habeas Petitions in 2026: Counsel, Prima Facie Review, and Record Development
A practical 2026 guide to California Racial Justice Act habeas procedure, including counsel, prima facie review, record development, service requirements, and preservation issues under Penal Code § 745.
