Cooper Names New Crime Lab Chief
Wednesday, September 08 2010
by Laura Leslie
NC AG Roy Cooper (photo: Laura Leslie)
Jeremy Loeb: The SBI Crime Lab has a new interim director. That’s just one of several changes announced today by Attorney General Roy Cooper. Laura Leslie reports.
Laura Leslie: Former State Appeals Court Chief Judge Gerald Arnold will oversee the troubled state crime lab during a nationwide search for a permanent lab chief. Cooper says Arnold will conduct a full review of all six sections of the lab to make sure reporting errors found in blood testing aren’t also happening elsewhere.
Roy Cooper: At this time, we’re not aware of any evidence that this has occurred. However, it is critical that Judge Arnold take a good, thorough look. If problems are found, they will be fixed.
Cooper also says all lab reports and bench notes will now be posted online for prosecutors and defense attorneys to review. A recent audit found more than 200 faulty or misleading blood test reports between 1987 and 2003. Laura Leslie, NC Public Radio, WUNC.
