Non-Memberships – and Why!
The following organizations tout themselves highly, higher than I would ever tout them. I am forthright about my disinterest in joining such groups. Note that some of their members have my esteem, and I rely on some of their finer publications.
International Association for Identification (AIA), Questioned Documents Section.
Due to a very fine gentleman, Raymond T. Moore, now deceased, I applied for membership. When I am asked on voir dire why I was rejected, I say because I lacked the requisite ignorance. They claim incompetence as a handwriting analyst (psychological graphology) is a qualification for handwriting identification (forensic graphology). Yet they have graphologists as members.
American Society of Questioned Document Examiners (ASQDE).
A keynote of science is openness, but ASQDE meetings are closed, and circulation of theirconference papers is restricted. A government examiner said in court his ASQDE paper could only be had from them. Later someone gave me the paper. If it were mine, I too would keep it secret. They publish a quality journal. I value many of the technical articles, though those on handwriting are generally weak.
American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), Questioned Document Section.
I attend some of their meetings because ASTM meets the previous weekend and because afterwards I appreciate NADE more.
American Board of Forensic Document Examiners (ABFDE).
This is the certifying body for ASQDE, AAFS and other groups. They make silly claims as to being the only legitimate certifying body and the only 200 or so qualified examiners in North America. It was ABFDE folk, who in U.S. vs. Starzecpyzel and other cases, were said to be unreliable. NADE certified members more often than not prevail over ABFDE examiners
American College of Forensic Examiners, founded by Dr. Robert O'Block.
I belonged less than a year. After going to their first conference when they were called American Board of Forensic Handwriting Analysts, I was so ethically offended that I quit.
Southwest Association of Forensic Document Examiners (SWAFDE).
A member purchased the first edition of my QDE Index. He wrote a review for their newsletter. Another member called to purchase it. Learning of my background, she said it was all at Los Angeles County Law Library in a card file. I had just visited there and knew it was not. The reviewer was harassed by her and another member. Such behavior is hardly commendable.