Donna Fontana, forensic Anthropologist, to be guest speaker

MILFORD — Nationally acclaimed forensic anthropologist Donna A. Fontana will be the keynote speaker at the Pike County Bar Association's Continuing Legal Education presentation to be held on April 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the River Rock Inn in Milford.

She will discuss the common ground shared by law and anthropology and the ways in which forensic anthropology can help lawyers solve a case.

Pike County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Joseph F. Kameen will provide the legal groundwork regarding how to have a forensic anthropologist or other professional deemed qualified to testify as an expert witness in a courtroom proceeding. Judge Kameen indicated the importance of properly qualified expert witnesses in court proceedings. "In the American system of justice, very often, an expert witness can shed light on highly technical issues outside of the general knowledge of the jurors."

“The expertise of a forensic anthropologist can be extremely useful to a lawyer who is seeking scientific, technical and other specialized knowledge during a trial,” said Judge Kameen.

As a forensic anthropologist, Fontana has taught Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents on human remains detection and recovery and has aided in the identification of hundreds.

"We're very fortunate to have Donna join us as part of this educational program. She brings an unmatched expertise in a field with a limited amount of specialists. Forensic anthropologist is unique area of expertise and of great significance to families waiting for news of missing persons," said PCBA President Erickson Kameen.

Fontana will be walkingattendees through the procedure of identifying unknown victims and the legal facets that follow.

"Her expertise and interaction with a variety of professionals shall prove invaluable," said Kameen. "It would benefit all bar members to attend."

As New Jersey State Police's head Forensic Anthropologist, Fontana examines found bodies and bones to identify unknown victims of crime or misfortune by determining their approximate age, race and gender.

Fontana works at a State Police laboratory in Hamilton, New Jersey. There, she extracts and classifies everything found on the remains of unidentified victims. She enters her findings into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System public database, and cross examines them against dental and fingerprint records and medical records as well as markings such as scars and tattoos.

She has worked in the identification process of victims of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001 in New York City as well as the American Airlines Flight 587 on Nov. 12, 2001 in Queens, New York and EgyptAir 990 plane crash on Oct. 31, 1999 in Rhode Island.

President Erickson Kameen stated that the PCBA is committed to providing ongoing legal education programs. Attorneys are given the opportunity to receive 6 hours of continuing legal education by attending this program.

The Pike County Bar Association is committed to the advancement of legal education within the community. More information can be found at pikebar.com.

This event is free of charge to PCBA members. Non-members are asked to pay $150. Breakfast, lunch and refreshments will be served to all who attend.

To register for the event, go to www.pikebar.com.