The 6th International Conference on Evidence Law and Forensic Science (“ICELFS 2017”) has successfully held during 2017 August 14-16 in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S., which was jointly sponsored by PRC “111 Plan” of China Evidence Science Innovation and Talent Base and PRC “2011 Plan” of China Collaborative Innovation Center of Judicial Civilization (“CICJC”), while cohosted by Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law (“CUPL”), International Association of Evidence Science (“IAES”), and organized by Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland, USA. The ICELFS 2017 was attended by hundreds of delegates including evidence scholars and forensic scientists from countries and regions of five continents including China, U.S., U.K., Switzerland, Netherlands, Australia, Japan, etc. The Chinese delegation includes 28 legal scholars and forensic experts from China University of Political Science and Law, Beihang University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing Jiaotong University, East China University of Political Science and Law, Sichuan University, Southwest China University of Political Science and Law, Henan University of Economics and Law, Nanjing Normal University, Dalian Maritime University, Criminal Investigation Police University of China, Zhejiang Police College, North China University of Technology, Public Security Bureau of Longquanyi, in Chengdu, Zhejiang DIAN Diagnostics Co., Ltd., etc.The 17 people CUPL delegation (including 13 professors, 1 full-time researcher, 2 PhD. candidates, and 1 master candidate), led by Professor Baosheng Zhang (Co-Chair of the “2011 Plan” China Collaborative Innovation Center of Judicial Civilization), attended the ICELFS 2017. Participants had comprehensive discussions under the theme of ICELFS 2017: The Relationship between Evidence Law and Forensic Science.

Since 2007, Six ICELFSs, cohosted and co-sponsored by Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science - CUPL and Key Laboratory of Evidence Science of the Ministry of Education, had been biennially convened in Beijing. ICELFS has been growing into an opportunity of communication for the evidence law jurists and forensic scientists in China and around the world. It was the first time for the ICELFS 2015 to go aboard since the first four ICELFSs before held in Beijing, China. The ICELFS 2017 was the inaugural convention of ICELFS held in the U.S., which indicated that the interdisciplinarity and internationalization of ICELFS has made another breakthrough. In addition, ICELFS 2017 provides anadvanced academic plantform where evidence law experts, practitioners and young scholars from all over the world can join together to communicate at an interdisciplinary in multidisciplinary level. At theconference, represented the International Association of Evidence Science, Professor Baosheng Zhang announced that the 7th ICELFS (2019) would be held in Freiburg, Germany and jointly sponsored by three  parties:International Association of Evidence Science, Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, CUPL, and Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law, Freiburg, Germany. 

At the opening ceremony of the conference at 9 a.m. on August 14, 2017  , Mr.David R. Fowler (Person in Charge of U.S.Organizing Committee, Chief of Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland, USA) , Mr. Brian Frosh (Chief Attorney General of Maryland) , Mr. Kevin Davis (Chief of Maryland City Police) , Professor Baosheng Zhang (Co-Director, Collaborative Innovation Center of Judicial Civilization), Professor Ronald J. Allen (President, International Association of Evidence Science), delivered their warm opening speech.

6 Key-note speakers delivered wonderful speeches on the topic of the relationship between evidence law and forensic science. The name of thespeakers and the topic of their speechesare as follows: Professor Ronald J. Allen, who is the John Henry Wigmore Professor of Law at Northwestern University, gave a speech on The Complex Relationship Between Evidence and Forensic Science. Professor Edward Imwinkelried, who is a distinguished scholar in University of California, Davis Law School, gave a speech on The Form of Reform: Revisiting the Choice Among a Creed, a Code and a Catalogue. Professor Paul Roberts, who is distinguished scholar in evidence law of University of Nottingham, gave a speech on The Forensic Challenge. Professor Daniel Capra, who is both moderator of Federal Evidence Discussion Group and scholar of law school in Fordham University, gave a speech on Rulemaking Possibilities: Efforts of the United States Judicial Conference on Evidence Rules to Address the Challenge to Forensic Expert Testimony. Professor Zhang Baosheng, who goes on a long career in China University of Political Science & Law, gave a speech on Rethinking Chinese Evidence Theories and Reconstructing System of Evidence: A Thread for the Pearls of Chinese Evidence. Professor VicorWeedn, who was chairman of American Forensic Science Committee and is dean of forensic science department in The George Washington University, gave a speech on Science and Law-Miscible.

In the afternoon of the openin- ceremony day, there was a seminaron Strategies for Drafting, Implementing and Updating Comprehensive Evidence Reform Legislation. In the seminar, debates concentrated on Whether Uniformed Evidence Rules Should be Constructed, between well-known scholars worldwide, including Professor Ronald J. Allen, Professor Edward Imwinkelried, Professor Daniel Capra and Professor Paul Roberts.

In following two days, two forum of the symposium were held simultaneously, which was divided into 12 sessions: 1)Search for Truth: Scientific & Legal Perspectives, 2)Unsettled Science in the Midst of Conflict Resolution, 3)Finality: Scientific Quest & Judicial Finality, 4)What Matters in Court, 5)Population Data-Based Scientific Evidence, 6)Standards of Judicial Proof, 7)Scientific Application within a Legal Framework, 8)Advancement of Scientific Evidence, 9)Hot Issues in China’s Judicial Reform, 10)Bridging the Gap between Science and the Law, 11)Bridging the Gap between Science and the Law, and 12)Bridging the Gap between Science and the Law. 44 addressors (including 16 from China University of Political Science & Law) gave speeches in English in 15 to 20 minutes, and went through the following Q&A session. 4 Chinese scholars (including Professor Zhao Dong and Assistant Professor Yang Tiantong of China University of Political Science & Law) acted as the chairman of 4 sessions respectively.

The official language of this conference is English. All participants delivered wonderful speeches in English. The names of the speakersand the topic of their reports are as follows: Professor Zongzhi Long from Sichuan University-New Probe into Corroboration,Professor Xu Wang, Dean of Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science in CUPL -Development of China’s Forensic Science in statistics: 2005-2016,Professor Di Lu-Genetic distributions of 19 XSTR loci in 810 unrelated Tibet, Uygur, and Mongolia individuals from China,Professor Dong Zhao-Molecular Pathology of Hypoxia and Ischemia in Death Investigation,Associate Professor Zhuhao Wang-The Admissibility of Pre-Trial Testimonial Transcript: A Discussion over Practice of China and The International Criminal Tribunals,Associate Professor Hongqi Wu-System Dislocation of Evidence Examination: Analysis Centered on "Basis for Deciding a Case",Associate Professor Luping Zhang-A Probe into Testimony Styles in Chinese Criminal Trials: A Narrative Structure Perspective,Associate Professor Yuanfeng Wang-China’s Reform in Environmental Forensic System,Associate Professor Hongxia Hao-The Research Progress for Pretreatment Technology of Liquid-Liquid Extraction (LLE) in Toxicological Analysis,AssociatePprofessorLiyuan-Study on Problems in DNA Identification Standardization in China and Countermeasures,Associate Professor Bin liu-The Investigation of UV Photography by Full Spectrum CCD Evidence Testing System,LecturerYuanyuanLian-Hyperspectral Imaging Technology for Revealing the Covered Original Handwritings by Inks with the same Type and same Color.

At the closing ceremony, Professor Li Ling (Maryland forensic Bureau in America) presented certificates of commendation (Best Paper Award, Scholar-in-training Award, Meritorious Award and so on) to the outstanding delegates on behalf of the organizing committee of the congress, Professor Ronald J. Allen (President, International Association of Evidence Science) and Professor Baosheng Zhang (Director, Collaborative Innovation Center of Judicial Civilization)summarized the achievements of the ICELFS 2017, and made an appointment to meet again in Freiburg in Breisgau in 2019.

During the meeting, The council of International Association of Evidence Science was held, and Professor Wang Xu (President, Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science - CUPL,) ProfessorAlex Biedermann (University of Lausanne) were co-opted on to the associate executive director. In addition, the editorial board meeting of theJournal of Forensic Science andMedicine which was International Journal of all English, cosponsored by  PRC “2011 Plan” of China Collaborative Innovation Center of Judicial Civilization (“CICJC”) and the Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science - CUPL, opened during the meeting,selecting two people  for Best Paper Award and one for Outstanding editorial board Award.

 

 

Note 1: List of Organizing Committee of the 6th International Symposium on Evidence Theory and Science (Baltimore, Maryland, USA)

 

Name	Employer	Duty
Professor Baosheng Zhang	China University of Political Science and Law	Vice chairman of the International Evidence Science Association, co-director of judicial civilization collaborative innovation center of “the 2011 Plan”, Chinese chairman of the 6th International Symposium on Evidence Theory and Science
Dr. David R. Fowler	Maryland Forensic Bureau	Secretary ,America Chairman of the 6th International Symposium on Evidence Theory and Science
Professor Ronald J. Allen	Northwestern University Law School	Chairman of the International Evidence Science Association
Professor Ling Li	Maryland Forensic Bureau	Director of the International Evidence Science Association, US liaison of the 6th International Symposium on Evidence Theory and Science
Associate Professor Zhuhao Wang	China University of Political Science and Law	Executive vice presidentof the International Evidence Science Association, Chinese contact of the 6th International Symposium on Evidence Theory and Science
Professor Edward J. Imwinkelreid	University of California, Davis School of Law	Director of the International Evidence Science Association
Professor Victor W. Weedn	Department of Forensic Science, George Washington University, USA	The dean,former president of the American Forensic ScienceAssociation
Professor  Lin Chang	Zhejiang China Di’an Diagnostic Technology Co., Ltd	Director of the International Evidence Science Association
Mr. Robert Taylor	Office of the Attorney General of Maryland, United States of America	Assistant attorney general
Ms. Katrin Hussmann Schroll	University of Maryland School of Law	Associate dean
Mr. David Caruso	University of Adelaide, Australia,school of law	Executive deputy directorof the International Evidence Science Association

 

 

Note 2: List of the Chinese spokesman of the 6th International Symposium on Evidence Theory and Science (in no particular order)

 

Name	Employer	Speech Topic
Professor Zongzhi Long	Sichuan University Law School	New Probe into Corroboration
Professor Baosheng Zhang	Institute of Evidence Science, China University of Political Science and Law	Rethinking Chinese Evidence Theories and Reconstructing System of Evidence: A Thread for the Pearls of Chinese Evidence
Professor Xu Wang	Institute of Evidence Science, China University of Political Science and Law	Development of China’s Forensic Science in statistics: 2005-2016
Professor Di Lu	Institute of Evidence Science, China University of Political Science and Law	Genetic distributions of 19 XSTR loci in 810 unrelated Tibet, Uygur, and Mongolia individuals from China
Professor Dong Zhao	Institute of Evidence Science, China University of Political Science and Law	Molecular Pathology of Hypoxia and Ischemia in Death Investigation
Professor Hongqi Wu	Institute of Evidence Science, China University of Political Science and Law	System Dislocation of Evidence Examination: Analysis Centered on “Basis for Deciding a Case”
Associate  professor Zhuhao Wang	Institute of Evidence Science, China University of Political Science and Law	The Admissibility of Pre-Trial Testimonial Transcript: A Discussion over Practice of China and The International Criminal Tribunals
Associate  professor Luping Zhang	Foreign Language School, China University of Political Science and Law	A Probe into Testimony Styles in Chinese Criminal Trials: A Narrative Structure Perspective
Associate  professor Yuanfeng Wang	Institute of Evidence Science, China University of Political Science and Law	China’s Reform in Environmental Forensic System
Associate professor Hongxia Hao	Institute of Evidence Science, China University of Political Science and Law	The Research Progress for Pretreatment Technology of Liquid-Liquid Extraction (LLE) in Toxicological Analysis
Associate professor Li Yuan	Institute of Evidence Science, China University of Political Science and Law	Study on Problems in DNA Identification Standardization in China and Countermeasures
Associate Professor Bin Liu	China University of Political Science and Law	The Investigation of UV Photography by Full Spectrum CCD Evidence Testing System
Lecturer Yuanyuan Lian	Institute of Evidence Science, China University of Political Science and Law	Hyperspectral Imaging Technology for Revealing the Covered Original Handwritings by Inks with the same Type and same Color
Associate Professor Xi Zheng	Beijing Foreign Language UniversityLaw School	Between the “Exclusive Conclusion” and the “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt”: Defining the Standard for Conviction and Improving the Preventive Mechanism against Wrongful Conviction
Associate Professor Wei Pei	Beijing University of Aeronautics and AstronauticsLaw School	Digital Evidence in China’s Criminal Justice System
Associate Professor Hua Shang	North China University of Technology	The Fact Finding Model and Improvement of Prevention Mechanism of Criminal Misjudgment in China
Lecturer Hui Qiang	Nanjing Normal University
Lecturer Fei Zheng	Beijing Jiaotong University Law School	Dilemma and Outlet: on the Chinese System of Criminal Evidence Custody
Assistant Researcher Bangda Chen	East China University of Political Science and Law	Expert Assistant: Empirical and Theoretical Analysis
Lecturer Hanbing Gong	Henan University of Finance and Economics	The Research on Evidence Science: A New Interdisciplinary Trend in UCL Model and CUPL Model
Dr. Xingyi Wang	Institute of evidence science, China university of political science and law	Confrontation Clause after Crawford and Its Impact on the Admissibility of Forensic Evidence
Min Zhang (PhD Candidate)	East China University of Political Science and Law	The Pneumothorax Related to Acupuncture Therapy: AReport of the Two Autopsy Cases with the Computed Tomography Findings
Suhao Chen (PhD Candidate)	Southwest University of Political Science and Law	On the Standard of Proof in the Consensual Criminal Procedures of China
Mr. Jianye Qu	Zhejiang ChinaDian Diagnostics Co.,Ltd.	The Procedural Regulations of Expert Opinions Accepted during the Criminal Procedure from the Perspective of Evidence Rules
Mr. Yu Huang	Chengdu Longquanyi public security bureau	A Mathematical Method and Application in Case or Incident On-Spot Analysis
Shi Feng (Postgraduate)	Institute of evidence science, China university of political science and law	Evaluation of Elder Homicides in State of Maryland, 2005-2015
Bin Cheng (Postgraduate)	Dalian Maritime University	The Soft Law in International Commercial Arbitration: Insight into the Rules of Evidence
Congrui Chen (Undergraduate)	Zhejiang Police College	The Certification Rules of Electronic Evidence in Civil Trial Practice—A Case Study of Chinese Local Court

 

Note 3: The awards list of the 6th International Symposium on Evidence Theory and Science (part of China University of Political Science and Law, in no particular order)

Name	Awards	Awarding agency
Professor Baosheng Zhang	Distinguished Contribution Award	International Evidence ScienceAssociation
Associate  professor Zhuhao Wang	Outstanding Committee Service Award	International Evidence ScienceAssociation
Professor Dong Zhao	Outstanding Service Award	Forensic science and forensic medicine Magazine editorial board
Associate professor Hongxia Hao	Best Paper Award	International Evidence ScienceAssociation
Shi Feng (postgraduate)	Young Scholar Award	International Evidence ScienceAssociation