Ted Vosk
of Counsel to Cowan Kirk Gaston Law Firm
Ted Vosk knows what it means to overcome long odds. Kicked out of his house as a teenager, he lived on the streets, homeless, for the better part of four years. Eventually tiring of his situation, he gained admittance to Eastern Michigan University where he was named a national Goldwater Scholar before graduating with honors in Theoretical Physics and Mathematics. Thereafter Ted entered the Ph.D. program in Physics at Cornell University before moving on to Harvard Law School where he obtained his JD.
Since coming to Washington ten years ago, Ted has been a prosecutor, public defender, the Acting Managing Director of a National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center at the University of Washington and Vice President of Celestial North, an organization dedicated to teaching astronomy to the public and in the schools, and which was awarded the Out of This World Award for Excellence in Astronomy Outreach by Astronomy Magazine. Ted is currently a legal and science writer, criminal defense attorney, and legal/forensic consultant. A member of the prestigious American Academy of Forensic Sciences and Mensa, he has written, broadcast, presented and taught around the country on topics ranging from string theory to the doctrine of constitutional separation of powers.
As a defense attorney and consultant, Ted has been part of the most significant DUI cases in Washington State over the past decade including City of Seattle v. Clark-Munoz, Devine v. Dept. of Licensing, City of Firecrest v. Jensen, Butler v. Kato, City of Seattle v. Ludvigsen, City of Seattle v. Winebrenner and led the fight against substandard science and unethical practices in the State’s Toxicology Lab which resulted in suppression of evidence statewide and significant scientific reforms in the Lab. He has been published in multiple treatises on DUI law and science as well as legal periodicals including The Champion. He is currently authoring a text on Forensic Metrology for CRC Press. Ted was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2005 by Washington Law and Politics Magazine, a Washington Super Lawyer by Washington Law and Politics Magazine and a Top Lawyer in Washington by Seattle Metropolitan Magazine both in 2012, and received the President’s Award from the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Certificate of Distinction from the Washington Foundation for Criminal Justice for his results fighting substandard science and unethical practices in the Washington State Toxicology Lab.
Ted lives with his wife Kris, the love of his life. Whether it’s chasing down active volcanoes, sky or scuba diving, white water rafting or simply sharing a sunset in the mountains, the two of them strive to suck every last ounce of marrow from life. Quiet moments are often spent doing astronomy or photography or with their dog and cats.
Below are some links to Ted’s works on the relationship between Attorneys and Scientists in the court of law:
- Introduction to Uncertainty
- Limitations and Uncertainty Management in Expert Interpretation and Testimony of Extrapolated BAC Results
- Bridging the Gap Workshop
- Forensic Metrology
- Fausto Breath Test Uncertainty Decision
- Weimer Blood Test Uncertainty Decision
