About

Willie Kerns. 25 years of digital forensics in Kentucky courts.

Certified forensic examiner, KRE 702 / Rule 702 / Daubert-qualified expert witness, and founder of SmartPath Technologies in Calvert City, Kentucky.

Bio

Over 25 years in this field — working cases across Circuit, Family, and Federal courts in Kentucky — I have seen the difference that proper expert testimony makes. Not because the evidence changed, but because the jury or judge finally understood what it meant and why they could trust it.

I have been doing this work for 25 years. My background includes digital forensics examination across a range of case types — custody disputes, criminal defense, civil litigation, employment matters, IP cases — in Circuit, Family, and Federal courts in Kentucky.

My examination work follows industry-standard methodologies using EnCase, FTK, and Cellebrite. Every examination produces a complete chain of custody record and a detailed forensic report written to satisfy the documentation requirements that Kentucky courts apply under KRE 702 and Daubert. The attorneys who get the most value from forensic experts involve them early — not at trial preparation, but when discovery begins, before ESI protocols are agreed to, before preservation orders are finalized.

Credentials & Certifications

Each credential is verifiable through the issuing body and reflects hands-on, multi-year forensic work — not a weekend course.

GCFE
GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner
SANS Institute credential for computer forensic examination and evidence handling.
GCFA
GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst
SANS Institute credential for advanced forensic analysis of incident response data.
EnCE
EnCase Certified Examiner
Guidance Software certification for industry-leading forensic imaging with EnCase.
CCO
Cellebrite Certified Operator
Cellebrite certification for file-system and logical extraction of mobile devices.
CCPA
Cellebrite Certified Physical Analyst
Cellebrite certification for physical extraction, including locked and damaged devices.
25+
Years in Kentucky Courts
Qualified expert in Circuit, Family, and Federal courts across the Commonwealth since 2001.
KRE 702
KRE 702 / Rule 702 / Daubert Qualified
Credential-based admissibility, peer-reviewed methodology, and known-error-rate documentation in every report.
Court Admissions & Testimony

Qualified as an expert witness in multiple Kentucky jurisdictions under KRE 702 and the federal Daubert standard since 2001.

Professional Affiliations

Community and professional commitments that reflect active, ongoing engagement with the field.

Publications & Speaking

Recent publications written for Kentucky attorneys on digital evidence and forensic practice.

How Kentucky attorneys qualify a digital forensics expert witness under KRE 702 and Daubert — Practical guide to qualifying a forensic expert for circuit, family, and federal court testimony.
What a digital forensics expert witness does for Kentucky attorneys — Overview of forensic methodology, chain of custody, and KRE 702 admissibility standards.
How to authenticate digital evidence in Kentucky courts — KRE 901 authentication standards for text messages, social media, email, and cloud-stored records.
Can text messages be used as evidence in Kentucky? — Forensic authentication, chain of custody, and the evidentiary requirements for SMS and iMessage evidence.
CV & Credentials Download

Curriculum Vitae

Full professional background, credentials, court history, and case type summary — suitable for voir dire and retainer review.

Related Resources
See the statewide Kentucky expert witness hub → Louisville Metro expert witness page → Bowling Green / Warren County expert witness page → Lexington-Fayette Metro expert witness page → Covington / Kenton County (Northern Kentucky) expert witness page → Paducah / McCracken County (Western Kentucky) expert witness page → Criminal defense digital forensics → eDiscovery expert witness page → Mobile device forensics expert witness page → Attorney engagement inquiry → Pre-engagement questions? See the attorney FAQ →

Need a credentialed expert witness for a Kentucky case?

25 years of digital forensics in Kentucky courts. Free initial consultation for attorneys across the Commonwealth.

Engagement Inquiry (270) 205-4709 willie@smartpathtech.com