State v. Simmer
A plain-English summary from Criminal Defense Resources™, a free resource for pro per/pro se defendants and their families.
- Decided
- Citation
- 304 Neb. 369, 935 N.W.2d 167 (2019)
What did the court decide?
The court held that the trial judge did not abuse its discretion by admitting DNA analysis done with TrueAllele probabilistic genotyping software over the defendant's Daubert/Schafersman challenge to its reliability. It also held that a low mixture weight (a small share of the defendant's DNA in a mixture), which makes the match statistic less certain, is not a reason to exclude the evidence. That goes to weight for the jury, as long as the jury gets the statistical context. The court cautioned that its opinion does not mean TrueAllele evidence must be admitted in every future case.
Why does it matter?
This is a leading state supreme court ruling on whether DNA software results can come in under the Daubert test. It shows the kind of record (validation studies, peer review, error rates) courts look at, and it leaves the door open to new challenges if new science raises doubts about the software.
Where can I read the full opinion?
Read the full opinion on Nebraska Supreme Court Online Library (certified full opinion) →
Always read the full opinion and check whether later cases have limited or changed it. A summary can leave out important details.