Protest turns eyes to Medical Examiner | News

Turmoil at the State Medical Examiner's Office prompted a protest at the State Capitol today.

In 2009, the office lost its national accreditation; then a former long time chief investigator was charged with rape and acquitted on a sexual battery charge. After that, former Chief Medical Examiner Collie Trant was fired and is now suing to get his job back.

Now family members who've lost loved ones are hoping to get the attention of newly elected lawmakers. The group calls themselves "Justice for the Dead." They're asking state leaders to pass the "Chanda Turner Reform Bill."

That bill would give families an appeals process when they're denied an autopsy on a suspicious or violent death. The bill actually passed the Legislature this year but was vetoed by the Governor.