The seminar was designed for criminal defense lawyers, and focused on how to deal with DNA evidence, cross-examining experts and the like. Though much of it was nuts and bolts, "here's how it's done", stuff. The techniques have changed so much over the last several years, and change so rapidly, that I try to go to as many of these as I can!

In my state, DNA is taken from anyone convicted of a felony. (Which, frankly, I think is a bit silly, since most of those convicted aren't convicted of the sort of crimes in which DNA evidence is likely to play any part.) Every so often, someone introduces legislation to take DNA from all arrestees (and I believe some states do this, at least with arrests for felonies), but so far it's been voted down here.

Of course, it's now used regularly in paternity determinations.