New state Supreme Court Chief Justice William Waller Jr. says he wants the Legislature to adequately fund the state Crime Lab to provide a system for preserving DNA evidence in all felony cases.
Waller was sworn in Thursday as the 35th chief justice of the high court before an overflow crowd at the Gartin Justice Building in Jackson. Looking on were his parents, former Gov. Bill Waller and Carroll Waller. As leader of the nine-member court, Waller said the establishment of a modern crime laboratory under the Department of Public Safety was an initiative of his father’s administration from 1972-76 and will be a priority for him.
“As we search for truth through the judicial process, we want to evaluate the best available evidence without undue delay,” Waller said of the need for DNA preservation.
State Sen. David Blount, with the Senate Judiciary B Committee, said a top committee priority will be to look at the findings of a legislative DNA task force.
Magnolia Tribune
