Judging Firearms Evidence

For over a hundred years, firearms examiners have testified that they can conclusively identify the source of a bullet or cartridge case. In recent years, however, research scientists have called into question the validity and reliability of such testimony. In this article published in the Southern California Law Review, the authors detail over a century of case law and examine how judges have engaged with the changing practice and scientific understanding of firearms comparison evidence. The more-than-a-century-long arc of judicial review of firearms evidence in the United States suggests that, over time, scientific research can displace tradition and precedent to improve the quality of justice. By Brandon Garrett, Eric Tucker and Nicholas Scurich.