The Confrontation Clause and Its Impact on Traffic Safety: A Primer

Free NDAA live webinar!

May 13, 2025 @ 3:00 p.m. ET

Panelists include:

• The Honorable Mary Kate Huffman, Ohio Second Appellate District Judge and American Bar Association National Judicial Fellow
• Sabra Jones, PhD, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Regional Toxicology Liaison, NHTSA Region 3
• Deena Ryerson, Senior Assistant Attorney General of the Oregon Department of Justice and Oregon Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor

The Confrontation Clause impacts how and under what circumstances the testimony of witnesses for the state is admissible in criminal cases.  A series of decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court, culminating in the Court's recent case, Smith v. Arizona, provide guidance about how those witnesses, especially forensic scientists, provide testimony. This webinar will provide a basic yet thorough analysis of the Confrontation Clause and recent Supreme Court decisions, with a focus on Smith v. Arizona, and how the decision impacts the practices and procedures of those working with the criminal justice system. The multi-disciplinary panel will discuss suggested practices that comply with the requirements of the Confrontation Clause and evaluate alternative means of proving an element of an offense in the absence of forensic evidence.