Why Ed Barley’s Credentials Do Not Establish Formal Toxicology Training
Article overview: This credential analysis argues that Ed Barley lacks formal academic training in toxicology, pharmacology and forensic science despite serving on court expert panels, and explains why that distinction matters.
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The Los Angeles Superior Courts have a panel of experts that they try to force appointed attorneys (including public defenders) to use.
Getting on the panel is easy if you worked as a lab tech in a government crime lab as Ed Barley did, even if you have zero formal education in pharmacology, zero formal education toxicology, and/or zero formal education forensics.
For purposes of science and medicine, the term “formal education” means education from an accredited institution of higher learning, where a student matriculates and graduates. The education consists of professors with terminal degrees, required textbooks, online library databases, and has written assignment submissions, quizzes/exams, that are graded and evaluated to establish that the individual learned what they were taught. If you do have formal education in forensic toxicology, unlike Edmund Barley, the titles of the completed classes listed on your academic transcript should include:
Pharmacology;
Toxicology; and
Forensics.
For example, in Okorie Okorocha’s academic transcript, the following words of titles of classes are listed for some, but not all academic classes completed by Okorie Okorocha:
Principles of Forensic Science, Scientific Evidence and Statistics, Natural Medicinal Products, Forensic Toxicology I, Forensic Toxicology II, General Toxicology, Toxic Substances, Principles of Pharmacology, Laboratory Quality, Assurance, and Control, Medicinal Chemistry of Drugs of Abuse, Biological Evidence and Serology, Forensic Medicine I, Molecular Biochemistry and Forensic Entomology.
Edmund Barley is the textbook example of the untenable Los Angeles Superior Court policy, that places thousands of citizens in jeopardy because they do not get access to legitimate experts and get convicted.
Barley’s reign of terror on the Los Angeles Public Defender’s office and appointed attorneys, which handles the lion’s share of the cases on the Los Angeles county legal system, ended earlier this year.
This was because Barley would say be allotted $3,500 for this testimony by the court, at a rate of $300 per hour. Barley would then bill for almost or close to the entire amount of the appointment order and ghost the attorneys at trial.
This strategy was because experts make all of their money on preparation time and usually lose money testifying.
In some cases, Barley would be waiting in the hallway to be called into court as a defense witness, but, when the attorney would go in the hallway to get him, he would be gone. Or, in one case, he stated “I am going home, I do not feel well.”
Okorie Okorocha had to cover pro bono on 2 to 3 cases in a single week, in which Barley had charged from preparation time and ghosted the attorneys at trial.
As a result of his shenanigans, the Los Angeles Public Defender’s office sent out a memorandum to all of its attorneys to never have Barley appointed again.
Why the credentials claim fails
A biochemistry degree may be demanding, but it does not establish formal education, laboratory training or demonstrated competency in forensic toxicology. The relevant inquiry is the actual toxicology coursework, supervised casework, method validation experience and accuracy of the opinions offered.
Continue with the analysis of Ed Barley’s shifting BAC testimony.
Related reading: For related context, read Ed Barley’s Biochemistry Degree Does Not Make Him a Forensic Toxicologist, How Forensic Toxicologists Analyze Data. Browse the Forensic Toxicology topic hub.
