David F. Ross, PhD. has a long history of bringing science to the legal system. Learn more about East Tennessee’s real life “Bull” here
I have been on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation faculty.
I teach law enforcement how to collect eyewitness identification evidence using lineups, photo spreads, and witness interviews. Error in eyewitness memory and identification is the leading cause of wrongful conviction in the legal system.
I have given numerous educational seminars.
My seminars were given to legal and mental health professionals on how to interview the child witness, the accuracy of adult eyewitness memory, understanding the Daubert / McDaniel Factors used to evaluate expert testimony, the psychology of jury behavior and jury selection, detecting deception in witnesses, designing opening and closing statements, and detecting deception in witnesses. I have spoken to the State Conference for Public Defenders, TN and Indiana District Attorneys Conference, the Tennessee Judicial Conference, Bar Associations, Paralegal Associations.
I worked 600 hours pro bono on the Anthony Williams case.
This case involved a 14-year-old African-American adolescent who was charged, convicted, and given life without parole for a murder he did not commit based on faulty eyewitness testimony. I evaluated the identicication evidence, wrote a report on the case and it was submitted to the Court, and as a result, Anthony was released from prison after serving 20 years. Read the UTC article here.
I am a recipient of the Liberty Bell Award.
I received the Liberty Bell Award in 2017. The purpose of the award is to “recognize community service that has strengthened the American system of freedom under law.” As a result of my efforts to bring science to the courtroom and increase social justice, I was given the Chattanooga Bar Association Liberty Bell Award to “recognize community service that has strengthened the American System of Freedom under law.” (Read the UTC article here and the Hamilton County Herald article here.) Also, I was given the Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Award.