Science In The Courtroom: What Evidence Is Admissible--And Who Decides?

Admissible--And Who Decides? Author: FRANKLIN HOKE, pp.1 Date: June 13,1994 Some scientists say a Supreme Court decision to deemphasize peer review has led to better court science Editor's Note: This article, the first of a two-part series on the role played by science--and scientists--in the court, looks at the aftermath of a pivotal case involving scientific evidence and at some of the fundamental questions raised at the junctu

Franklin Hoke

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Admissible--
And Who Decides? Author: FRANKLIN HOKE, pp.1
Date: June 13,1994

Some scientists say a Supreme Court decision to deemphasize peer review has led to better court science

Editor's Note: This article, the first of a two-part series on the role played by science--and scientists--in the court, looks at the aftermath of a pivotal case involving scientific evidence and at some of the fundamental questions raised at the juncture between these two powerful sectors of society. The second part, to appear in the June 27 issue, will explore several ongoing projects aimed at increasing cooperation between science and law.

A landmark Supreme Court decision concerning the use of scientific evidence in legal proceedings--although handed down a year ago--is still a subject of vigorous debate among scientists and legal scholars. Observers say that one clear effect of the drug-liability case, Daubert et al. v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc., has been to spur ...

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