Forensic Toxicology Blog
Evidence-based articles about toxicology, expert testimony, legal developments, alcohol, drugs, and forensic testing.
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.
Vitreous Alcohol Evidence in Court: Ratios, Prediction Intervals, and Laboratory Records
A litigation-focused guide to measured vitreous alcohol, estimated BAC, ratio uncertainty, EtG and EtS, collection evidence, and laboratory records.
California Jury Selection in 2026: Hazlett, Sanmiguel, the RJA, and CCP § 231.7
Hazlett and Sanmiguel clarify California jury-selection law in 2026: the RJA, Penal Code § 745, and CCP § 231.7 do different work.
Racially Discriminatory Language Under California’s Racial Justice Act: Bankston and Barrera (2026)
Bankston and Barrera explain how California Penal Code § 745 treats discriminatory language, coded racial appeals, context, juror status, and appellate prejudice.
California Racial Justice Act Retroactivity in 2026: Who Can File a Penal Code § 745 Claim?
As of January 1, 2026, the California Racial Justice Act’s phased retroactivity for felony convictions is complete. This guide explains who can file, where, and how the procedural vehicles differ.
California Racial Justice Act Remedies in 2026: What Happens After a Penal Code § 745 Violation?
California Racial Justice Act remedies under Penal Code § 745 in 2026, including mistrial, new jury, charge reduction, vacatur, resentencing, and death-penalty limits.
California Racial Justice Act Discovery in 2026: Good Cause, Statistical Evidence, and Penal Code § 745(d)
California Racial Justice Act discovery in 2026: Penal Code § 745(d) good cause, comparator evidence, local statistics, postconviction discovery, and motion strategy.
MDMA and Ecstasy Evidence in Court: Identity, Purity, Dose, and Laboratory Records
A litigation-focused guide to separating drug identity, product purity, dose, timing, effect, intent, and the laboratory records needed to evaluate each.
California Forensic Toxicology Expert Testimony: Evidence Code, Sargon & Kelly
California framework for admitting and challenging forensic toxicology expert testimony under Evidence Code §§ 720, 801 and 802, including Sargon reliability review and Kelly issues for novel scientific techniques.
Cannabis DUI Evidence: Four Questions That Must Remain Separate
A cannabis DUI framework separating proof of prior use, recent use, driving-time impairment, and crash causation using toxicology, SFST, and crash-risk research.
Amended Toxicology Reports: A Version Comparison Worksheet
A practical worksheet for comparing original and amended toxicology reports, tracking changed findings, and organizing focused laboratory follow-up.
A Negative Nitazene Test: What Counsel Should Establish Before Relying on It
Review nitazene assay coverage, reporting limits, collection timing, and retained specimens before treating a negative result as evidence of no exposure.
