Memory expert taken to task in Libby hearing

[sabra]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15432154/

Memory expert taken to task in Libby hearing
Special counsel causes witness to question her own research

WASHINGTON - A key to the defense strategy for Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff, I Lewis "Scooter" Libby - that the pressure of his job at the White House caused Libby to "misremember" conversations about Valerie Plame to reporters - was put in question today during a pre-trial hearing on whether a memory expert would be admitted to testify on Libby's behalf.

...

Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald vigorously cross-examined Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, a memory expert and defense witness at the procedural hearing. Loftus, the first witness to appear in the case, testified in support of a motion by Libby's attorney that Dr. Robert A Bjork, the chairman of UCLA'S psychology department, should be admitted as an expert witness at trial.

Perception of guilt or innocence

Fitzgerald's blistering, nearly three-hour, questioning of Loftus caused her to admit that some of her own findings about what juries know about memory were faulty and that some of her own research may have been flawed.

Quoting from her own book "Witness for the Defense," Fitzgerald also confronted Loftus about how she might sway a jury if called to testify at trial. She had written that, "using my arsenal of subtle psychological tools" Loftus could make an impression on a jury about her perception about guilt or innocence.

[babylonsister]

1. It's so nice to hear/read Fitz is still working away on this.

:thumbsup:

[katinmn]

2. LOL! Go Fitz

[Supersedeas]

3. the 'science' of expert testimony -- what filth!!

[rodeodance]

6. well, looks like fritz set her in her place??

"using my arsenal of subtle psychological tools" Loftus could make an impression on a jury about her perception about guilt or innocence.

[Hugin]

4. Fitzgerald at work...

Great!

[Suich]

5. I detest words like "misremember!"

What a crock!

:hi:

[Cronus Protagonist]

8. Perhaps you misunderstand the meaning?

Hehehe I love words that begin with "mis". Never misunderestimate the power of creative spelling to miscommunicate a missive.

:evilgrin:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

14. Miserable post.

[Generic Brad]

12. What's next? Mistruth? n/t

[aquart]

22. Oh, I like that one.

[anotherdrew]

27. misrule n/t

[Kagemusha]

7. It may be a moral victory only, but what a moral victory.

Thanks, Fitz! You've probably set all sorts of precedent for cases down the line here.

[Me.]

9. Rainwater

for those of us parched for FitzG. news. As for the "expert", sounds like he was prepared for her. Team Libby will have to do better than this. Walton didn't sound impressed.

*shadow government*

[aquart]

23. Prepared? He had to have read every single thing she ever published.

And then cross-referenced it.

I'm so glad I have never done anything to annoy him.

[kimmerspixelated]

10. Fitzbaby

We love you!!! Now hurry up!

[DoYouEverWonder]

24. The trial isn't until January

but by then hopefully the DEMS will control Congress and all hell will break loose from every end for Bush & Co.

[tuvor]

11. Witness grilled in CIA leak case

WASHINGTON - Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald took on the first witness in the CIA leak case Thursday, dissecting an expert witness until she acknowledged errors and misstatements in her research.

Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, hoped the hearing would persuade a judge to let him call a memory expert at his obstruction and perjury trial in January.

At the outset of the procedural hearing, U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton indicated that he was not inclined to allow a memory expert to testify at the trial. Still, he allowed Libby's lawyers to present a witness to bolster their claim that memory experts would help in his defense.

When it came Fitzgerald's turn, the veteran prosecutor launched into a nearly three-hour cross-examination of the witness — psychologist Elizabeth Loftus — that had some members of the audience shaking their heads.

It was the first public courtroom confrontation between Fitzgerald and Libby's defense team and foreshadowed a contentious trial.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cia_leak

[Canuckistanian]

13. Good to see LIbby go down like this

Even if he wins, he looks like a fool. Can't remember a thing about the most notorious CIA outing in US history. Even while he was in the middle of it.

Would you want that on YOUR resume?

[Gregorian]

15. She sounds like the Catherine Harris of the courtroom

So I Googled.

And I know it's totally biased and unfair. BUT...

[NoodleyAppendage]

17. Actually, her work is quite respected in the field and she's a good researcher.

Expert witnesses (i.e., scientists) are not infalable, as science is not infalable. Loftus' work on witness bias is quite sound and revealing.

Libby has also retained the assistance of Daniel Schacter, Harvard memory researcher, who is a "GOD" in the field. There's some heavy-hitters on Libby's roster.

Of course, all of these memory researchers, while valid in their own right, are being misused by Libby to squirrel out of his perjury charge. It's a slimy thing to do, but it is his right to mount a defense any way he sees fit.

J

[Gregorian]

18. I made an assumption, and it appears to have bitten me.

I would not take a client like Libby. And that is what I based my assumption on. And to a degree, I'll bet... I would bet she's republican.

In a previous life, I turned down rather lucrative offers due to the nature of the buyers. But then we had values.

And her appearance is meaningless. I knew someone here would make me look as stupid as I deserved. :)

[NoodleyAppendage]

25. No problem. n/t

J

[FormerDem06]

26. You can't defend Libby for sure,

But I'd hate to be in his shoes. It'd go a little something like this:

So Tell me Steven you had a conversation a year ago with someone in your fast paced job. You know, the one 987,000 conversations ago? Now tell the truth, exactly what did you say and the other guy wrote it down so you're going to be charged with perjury if the conversations don't match up exactly.

I'd be in jail for sure.

[pitohui]

19. she is good

i have known people hurt by the "recovered memory" fraud and i don't think we as progressives have to assume that every memory is accurate, we know in our hearts that we all misremember things and that there are major problems w. the mechanisms of human memory

memories are not always correct, DNA has proved that what we truly believe has happened and whodunnit is not correct, so i don't care to crap on loftus, her skepticism and acknowledgement that the mind plays tricks is important science


as for the person who pulled out a photo of an average looking middle aged lady and thinks that's enough to discredit her, i cry looksism and sexism -- and while i'll be spat on for doing same, ya'll all know i'm right

to crap on somebody's testimony for having confidence and an outdated hairstyle is fairly frecking trivial

some will take no risks in your life, so by remaining unknown, no one but your intimates will ever crap on your hairstyle, what courage!

[jasmeel]

16. Fitzgerald would definately be a better scientist than Loftus!

But I guess we're lucky he's a lawyer!

[western mass]

20. Loftus and Bjork

are both well-respected scientists who have done ground-breaking work in their time.

I'm embarrassed and ashamed for them that they would prostitute themselves in the service of cheap defense ploys by a scumbag like Libby.

[emulatorloo]

21. sadly money talks, and you can bet they paid her a TON n/t

[cassiepriam]

28. Loftus is the world's leading expert on memory/recall.

And Fitz tore her to shreds. Amazing.

She asked for it with those inappropriate comments in her book.

(The repugs must have paid her a bundle)