OK, this story is Colorado-based, but close your eyes for a few seconds and see if you can wrap your mind around the possibility that such a thing could just as easily happen in Idaho.
That didn’t take long, did it? You know it can and, in fact, similarly scary things happen in the criminal justice realm with some regularity in states across the country.
In a nutshell, here is what has captured the attention — and instilled the wrath — of many Colorado residents and other critics nationally: forged signatures.
And not just fraudulently affixed scribbling on something like a check. Rather, these forgeries served to validate certificates attesting to the accuracy of breath-testing machines, enabling BAC results taken from them to serve as evidence leading to criminal convictions and all the dire consequences they entail.
The Intoxilyzer 9000 scandal currently playing out came to light when defense attorneys began noticing the signature of one prominent certifier in court cases a couple years back. They found that interesting because that individual no longer worked at the certifying agency.
And neither did another technician, who told authorities that he formally sounded the alarm when he noted that his signature was being forged on scores of certificates attesting to the accuracy of the machines. He said that his concerns were dismissed. He ultimately quit his position.
If there is one clear take away from the matter that might be deemed most centrally relevant for a criminal defense blog, it is likely this: for fundamental fairness to be ensured in any criminal case, the prosecution’s case must be probed, dissected and challenged in an absolutely withering manner by defense attorneys.
And, in fact, that is exactly what proven defense counsel does in every client matter in efforts to mitigate downsides and obtain best-case results.
That is what our clear objective always is at Palmer George PLLC for every client who turns to us during a time of need. We welcome contacts to our firm and the opportunity to advocate diligently on behalf of every person who is facing the vast power and resources of criminal authorities.
