Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Defination of Handwriting Analysis "Match"

Is there a legal defination as used in criminal law of the word "match" as it pertains to handwriting analysis. As used in the Susan McDonald case a few months ago in Los Angeles, the match was "Probably". (She was aquitted) As used in the Jon Benet (sic) case, the match was/is "inconclusive". (No arrests made) In a case I'm close to, the result was "Good Indication" (no action taken to date). Fingerprints match. Blood types match. Phone numbers match. Bullets fired from the same weapon match. Does handwriting "match". Are numerical probabilities tied to the terms; ie. Probably = 50% chance. Inconclusive = 30% chance. Indication = ?? Good Indication = +or- indication?

Is there a reference book in the library that contains this information?

Thanks


Asked on 5/11/99, 11:51 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Lyle Johnson Bedi and Johnson Attorneys at Law

Re: Defination of Handwriting Analysis

I am not aware of any legal definition of matching. It has been my experience that "matching" would depend upon the expert witness. In the area of finger prints some experts conclude that the finger prints are a "match" if there are 7 identical points. Other experts require as many as 14 identical points to conclude that they match.

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Answered on 5/19/99, 12:24 am


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