Police Are Getting DNA Data From People Who Think They Opted Out
Forensic genetic genealogists skirted GEDmatch privacy rules by searching users who explicitly opted out of sharing DNA with law enforcement.
Jordan Smith
Jordan Smith is a state and national award-winning investigative journalist based in Austin, Texas. She has covered criminal justice for more than 20 years and, during that time, has developed a reputation as a resourceful and dogged reporter with a talent for analyzing complex social and legal issues. She is regarded as one of the best investigative reporters in Texas. A longtime staff writer for the Austin Chronicle, her work has also appeared in The Nation, the Crime Report, and Salon, among other places.
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Dozens of Witnesses Say Rodney Reed Is Innocent. Texas Court Says They’re All Wrong.
The Court of Criminal Appeals has repeatedly ignored evidence of Reed’s innocence. Its latest ruling borders on the absurd.
Murder at the Motel
The “Power, Pride, and Politics” Behind the Drive to Execute Richard Glossip
The Supreme Court spared Glossip’s life — for now. But his fight is far from over.
Murder at the Motel
Shocking Vote by Oklahoma Parole Board Clears the Way for Richard Glossip’s Execution
Over the unprecedented pleas of the attorney general and state lawmakers to spare Glossip’s life, board members voted to deny clemency.
Murder at the Motel
Oklahoma Court: We Want Richard Glossip Dead and Evidence Be Damned
In a stunning rebuke to the state’s attorney general, the appeals court refused to vacate Glossip’s conviction, clearing the way for his execution.
Supreme Court Allows Rodney Reed to Keep Up His Fight for DNA Testing
Texas has gone to great lengths to prevent DNA testing of crime scene evidence that Reed says could exonerate him.
The End of Roe
Texas Judge Cosplaying as Medical Expert Has Consequences Beyond the Abortion Pill
The FDA has the power to ignore the mifepristone ruling, legal experts say. But only the courts can cure its dangerous implications.
Murder at the Motel
Oklahoma Attorney General Asks Court to Overturn Richard Glossip’s Conviction
The attorney general cited evidence destroyed by the state and misstatements by key witnesses, concluding that Glossip’s conviction could not stand.
His Conviction Relied on Debunked Bite-Mark Science. Why Is He Still Locked Up?
Alabama is determined to keep Charles McCrory in prison even though the evidence against him has fallen apart.
The End of Roe
“Sick and Twisted”: Women Sue Texas Over Harrowing Medical Episodes Caused by Abortion Bans
The first-of-its-kind lawsuit seeks to affirm that doctors can use their best medical judgment without fear of criminal penalty.