Criminal Justice Update: Computer hard drives

The Ohio Supreme Court handed down a decision that is a true reflection of the modern digital age. In cases where a defendant’s hard drive has been seized and examined by the police/prosecutorial authorities, the defense lawyer may not independently examine that hard drive (with a defense expert) unless the defense lawyer makes a minimal showing that the written results of the hard drive examination are somehow “false, incomplete, adulterated or spoliated.” See: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2009/2009-Ohio-1354.pdf. Thought: In this new digital age, computer forensic experts are rapidly becoming one of the most important expert witnesses. Make sure you hire the right one.