Built by defense attorneys, for defense attorneys
Factor Space Forensics was founded by Emily Prokesch and Joseph Cavise, two forensic litigators who have spent their careers challenging unreliable forensic evidence in criminal cases. Together, they bring 20+ years of courtroom experience in forensic litigation to every engagement.
Emily J. Prokesch
Founding Partner
Emily Prokesch has spent over a decade specializing in forensic evidence litigation within criminal defense. She has held leadership roles at some of the country's most respected defender organizations, with a particular focus on challenging the reliability and admissibility of firearms and toolmark identification.
Professional Experience
- Forensic Practice Director, The Bronx Defenders — Managed the forensic practice for the Criminal Defense Practice. Lead counsel on People v. Ross/A.M., the first firearms/toolmark admissibility hearing in New York State courts.
- First Chair Trial Attorney, Office of the Georgia Capital Defender — Led capital defense teams, tried a double homicide to verdict, and resolved four death penalty cases with non-death outcomes.
- Team Leader, NYSDA Discovery and Forensic Support Unit — Built and led a new statewide forensic support unit for New York's defense community.
Teaching
- Columbia Law School — Forensic Evidence Seminar, Pretrial Motions Practice Seminar, Trial Practice Seminar
- NYU School of Law — Artificial Intelligence and The Criminal Legal System
- Emory Law School — Forensic Evidence
National Leadership
- NIST OSAC Legal Task Group — Chair
- NIST FSSB Standards Review Panel
- ASTM International E30 Forensic Sciences Committee
- Center for Integrity of Forensic Science, STRMix Advisory Group
- National Forensic College, Planning Committee & Faculty
Selected Publications
- Prokesch, E.J. "The Myth of the Match: Pattern Matching in Cases Involving Firearms Evidence." 98 Wis. Law. 8-13 (Feb 2025)
- Gutierrez, R.E. & Prokesch, E.J. "The False Promise of Firearms Examination Validation Studies." J Forensic Sci. 2024; 69:1334-49
- Prokesch, E.J. & Gutierrez, R.E. Commentary on Hicklin et al. Forensic Sci. Int'l. 2024; 365, 112287
Education
- JD, Cum Laude, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
- BA, American Studies (Race & Class), Columbia University / Barnard College
- Oscar S. Straus Fellow, Guggenheim Fellowship in Criminal Justice & Crime Prevention
Bar admissions: New York State, Southern District of New York, State of Georgia, Georgia Supreme Court, Northern District of Georgia
Joseph K. Cavise
Founding Partner
As a leading member of the Cook County Public Defender's Office Forensic Science Division for over a decade, Joey developed deep expertise in challenging the scientific reliability and admissibility of forensic evidence in complex homicide, sexual assault, and other serious criminal cases. He was part of the team on People v. Winfield, the first firearms/toolmark admissibility hearing in Cook County, Illinois. He also litigated tens of fingerprint cases involving work by the Chicago Police Department's latent print unit.
Professional Experience
- Assistant Public Defender, Forensic Science Division, Cook County Public Defender's Office — Mastered the research and scientific foundations of forensic science disciplines in criminal cases. Evidence review, expert consultation, in-house training, admissibility challenges, and trial litigation of forensic issues in felony bench and jury trials.
- Assistant Public Defender, Civil Division, Cook County Public Defender's Office — Represented parents in abuse and neglect proceedings from initiation through disposition.
Selected Presentations
- Litigating a STRmix Case From Start to Finish, Wisconsin State Public Defender, Forensic University (2026)
- Litigating Contemporary DNA Issues Before and During Trial, Office of the Missouri State Public Defender (2026)
- AI in the Criminal Justice System, Santa Fe Institute (2025)
- DNA's Value for the Accused, American Academy of Forensic Sciences, 77th Annual Meeting (2025)
- Firing Back at "Ballistics" Evidence, Office of the State Appellate Defender; Illinois Northern District Federal Defender; State Bar of Wisconsin (2022–2025)
- Forensic Evidence Litigation Bootcamp, Public Defender Agency of Alaska (2022)
- Pattern Matching Evidence, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (2022)
- Confronting Pattern Matching Experts at Trial, NACDL-Cardozo Law, National Forensic College (2019)
- 30+ additional presentations to public defender offices, bar associations, and law schools nationwide
National Leadership
- NIST OSAC Legal Task Group (Member)
- NIST OSAC Fingerprint Identification Subcommittee (Member)
- American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Jurisprudence Section (Associate Member)
Selected Publications
- Max, B., Cavise, J. & Gutierrez, R.E. "Assessing Latent Print Proficiency Tests: Lofty Aims, Straightforward Samples, & the Implications of Nonexpert Performance." 69 J. Forensic Identification 281 (2019)
Education
- JD, with Public Interest Certificate, DePaul University College of Law
- BA, History & Italian, with a certificate in European Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison
- CALI Award: Advanced Trial Advocacy
Landmark cases
People v. Ross/A.M.
New York State Courts · 2019–2020
The first firearms/toolmark admissibility hearing in New York State courts. Emily served as lead counsel. The court excluded all evidence except class characteristic comparisons, finding the discipline not generally accepted as reliable.
People v. Winfield
Cook County, Illinois
The first firearms/toolmark admissibility hearing in Cook County, Illinois. Joey was part of the team that secured a landmark ruling on the admissibility of firearm identification evidence.
Work with us
Schedule a free consultation to discuss your case or learn how we can support your office's forensic needs.