Joyce Gilchrist
Encyclopedia
Joyce Gilchrist is a former forensic chemist who had participated in over 3,000 criminal cases in 21 years while working for the Oklahoma City
police department, and who was accused of falsifying evidence
. Her evidence led in part to 23 people being sentenced to death, 11 of whom have been executed. After her dismissal, Gilchrist alleged that she was fired in retaliation for reporting sexual misconduct.
evidence that other forensic examiners could not. She was also known for being unusually adept at testifying and persuading juries
, thus obtaining convictions. In 1994, Gilchrist was promoted to supervisor from forensic chemist after just 9 years on the job, but her colleagues began to raise concerns about her work.
Gilchrist was dismissed due to "flawed casework analysis" and "laboratory mismanagement". Concerns about Gilchrist's actions were first raised when a landscaper, Jeffrey Todd Pierce, who had been convicted of rape in 1986 largely based on Gilchrist's evidence despite a clean record and good alibi, was exonerated based on additional DNA evidence. Pierce, a husband and the father of two infant children, was misidentified in a police line-up and after voluntarily giving hair and blood samples to the police investigators hoping to clear his name, was arrested and charged with the rape after Gilchrist claimed his hair samples were "microscopically consistent" with the hairs found at the crime scene. Pierce lost his family and never saw his children grow up. He was finally cleared of the crime in 2001 after DNA evidence was re-examined and released after 15 years in prison. He subsequently filed a lawsuit
against Oklahoma City seeking 75 million dollars and charging that Gilchrist and Bob Macy, a now retired district attorney
, conspired to produce false evidence against him.. He graciously agreed to settle with Oklahoma City for $4 million.
One notable case is that of Michael Blair. Blair was sentenced to die for the murder of a young girl in 1993. The evidence leading to his conviction
included shafts of hair found near the girl's body and in Blair's car. New DNA evidence showed that the hair matched neither the girl, nor Blair. During the early 1990s, Oklahoma
state law did not allow defense attorneys to use government funds to hire other forensic scientists to verify Gilchrist's claims. However, during appeals of Malcolm Rent Johnson's death penalty case, two forensic experts hired by the defense were critical of Gilchrist's testimony, particularly as it relied upon several "blue-colored hairs" that seemed too "ubiquitous" to be useful evidence.
Another case is that of Curtis McCarty, who was released in 2007 after spending nearly 20 years on death row. The courts found that Gilchrist acted to either alter or intentionally lose evidence. In 2009 McCarty's lawsuit reached a settlement in which Gilchrist was responsible for a payment of over $16 million, an amount that she is attempting to force the city to pay.
Over 1,700 cases in which Gilchrist's evidence was significant to a conviction were reviewed by the state of Oklahoma. Her attorney stated that, "The criticism of her around here is second only to that of Timothy McVeigh
." After her dismissal, Gilchrist filed a lawsuit seeking 20.1 million dollars, claiming that her firing
was actually motivated by revenge, after she reported sexual misconduct
by her supervisor.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
police department, and who was accused of falsifying evidence
Evidence (law)
The law of evidence encompasses the rules and legal principles that govern the proof of facts in a legal proceeding. These rules determine what evidence can be considered by the trier of fact in reaching its decision and, sometimes, the weight that may be given to that evidence...
. Her evidence led in part to 23 people being sentenced to death, 11 of whom have been executed. After her dismissal, Gilchrist alleged that she was fired in retaliation for reporting sexual misconduct.
Biography
Gilchrist earned the nickname "Black Magic" for her ability to match DNADNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
evidence that other forensic examiners could not. She was also known for being unusually adept at testifying and persuading juries
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
, thus obtaining convictions. In 1994, Gilchrist was promoted to supervisor from forensic chemist after just 9 years on the job, but her colleagues began to raise concerns about her work.
Gilchrist was dismissed due to "flawed casework analysis" and "laboratory mismanagement". Concerns about Gilchrist's actions were first raised when a landscaper, Jeffrey Todd Pierce, who had been convicted of rape in 1986 largely based on Gilchrist's evidence despite a clean record and good alibi, was exonerated based on additional DNA evidence. Pierce, a husband and the father of two infant children, was misidentified in a police line-up and after voluntarily giving hair and blood samples to the police investigators hoping to clear his name, was arrested and charged with the rape after Gilchrist claimed his hair samples were "microscopically consistent" with the hairs found at the crime scene. Pierce lost his family and never saw his children grow up. He was finally cleared of the crime in 2001 after DNA evidence was re-examined and released after 15 years in prison. He subsequently filed a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
against Oklahoma City seeking 75 million dollars and charging that Gilchrist and Bob Macy, a now retired district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
, conspired to produce false evidence against him.. He graciously agreed to settle with Oklahoma City for $4 million.
Aftermath
The Pierce suit against Oklahoma City was settled for $4 million in 2007, with one city councilman noting that the city could have had to pay much more. Other cases from individuals wrongly convicted on Gilchrist testimony continue to work their way through the courts.One notable case is that of Michael Blair. Blair was sentenced to die for the murder of a young girl in 1993. The evidence leading to his conviction
Conviction
In law, a conviction is the verdict that results when a court of law finds a defendant guilty of a crime.The opposite of a conviction is an acquittal . In Scotland and in the Netherlands, there can also be a verdict of "not proven", which counts as an acquittal...
included shafts of hair found near the girl's body and in Blair's car. New DNA evidence showed that the hair matched neither the girl, nor Blair. During the early 1990s, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
state law did not allow defense attorneys to use government funds to hire other forensic scientists to verify Gilchrist's claims. However, during appeals of Malcolm Rent Johnson's death penalty case, two forensic experts hired by the defense were critical of Gilchrist's testimony, particularly as it relied upon several "blue-colored hairs" that seemed too "ubiquitous" to be useful evidence.
Another case is that of Curtis McCarty, who was released in 2007 after spending nearly 20 years on death row. The courts found that Gilchrist acted to either alter or intentionally lose evidence. In 2009 McCarty's lawsuit reached a settlement in which Gilchrist was responsible for a payment of over $16 million, an amount that she is attempting to force the city to pay.
Over 1,700 cases in which Gilchrist's evidence was significant to a conviction were reviewed by the state of Oklahoma. Her attorney stated that, "The criticism of her around here is second only to that of Timothy McVeigh
Timothy McVeigh
Timothy James McVeigh was a United States Army veteran and security guard who detonated a truck bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995...
." After her dismissal, Gilchrist filed a lawsuit seeking 20.1 million dollars, claiming that her firing
Firing
Dismissal is the termination of employment by an employer against the will of the employee. Though such a decision can be made by an employer for a variety of reasons, ranging from an economic downturn to performance-related problems on the part of the employee, being fired has a strong stigma in...
was actually motivated by revenge, after she reported sexual misconduct
Sexual misconduct
Sexual misconduct is misconduct of a sexual nature. The term may be used to condemn an act, but in some jurisdictions it has also a legal meaning....
by her supervisor.
External links
- New York Times Police Chemist Is Rebutted After Man's Execution
- New York Times In Rape Case Gone Awry, New Suspect
- New York Times Court Overturns Death Sentence
- New York Times Oklahoma Will Study Capital Cases
- New York Times Death Penalty Cases Reviewed
- New York Times Man Is Reunited with Family
- New York Times Oklahoma Governor Weighs Independent Inquiry on Lab
- New York Times Flaws in Chemist's Findings Free Man at Center of Inquiry
- New York Times Capital Case Re-Examined