Legal Alchemy: The Use & Misuse of Science in the Law [Hardcover]

David L. Faigman (Author), Faigman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1999

The author explores the difficult issues encountered when law and science meet, and examines the way science is incorporated into judicial and legislative systems. An assortment of case studies are used to illustrate the ways in which policy makers employ science when making decisions. The book concludes with suggestions on how those in science and the law might work together more effectively.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A gripping account of the stormy relationship between law and science. People in black robes look warily when people in white lab coats enter the courtroom. Faigman's clear-eyed and level-headed book shows us how right judges are to be concernedand how much scientists (at least some of them) can offer the law. -- John Monahan, Doherty Professor of Law, University of Virginia

Legal Alchemy is a thoroughly comprehensive and stimulating study of both the promise and perils of using science in the legal system. David Faigman's book is essential reading not only for legal practitioners but for anyone interested in the explosive role of science in the law." -- Gerald Posner, author of Killing the Dream

Legal Alchemy is an elegantly written, intelligent, and erudite exposition of what will become the most important issue in law in the next century-the nexus between science and law... Legal Alchemy is sure to become a canonical text for practitioners and scholars because it is subtle and perceptive, supported by compelling examples and provocative in its understanding of this critical engagement between science and law. -- Susan S. Silbey, William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Sociology, Wellesley College.

Legal Alchemy masterfully conveys the long history of uses and misuses of science in the law. It's an absolute must-read for any lawyers or scientists who want to better appreciate one another." -- Elizabeth F. Loftus, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Washington, President, American Psychological Society.

About the Author

David L. Faigman is a Professor of Law at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. He writes extensively on topics concerning the law's use of science and is a co-author of the leading treatise Modern Scientific Evidence: The Law and Science of Expert Testimony, which has been cited several times by the United States Supreme Court. He is regularly interviewed regarding issues of scientific evidence and constitutional law.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 233 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1 edition (August 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0716731436
• ISBN-13: 978-0716731436
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,760,838 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lively look at what happens when law and science collide, October 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Legal Alchemy: The Use & Misuse of Science in the Law (Hardcover)

This book is what might result if you crossed a book by Stephen Jay Gould with a book like A Civil Action. Like Gould and Harr, this book takes an interesting topic that most of us would not otherwise know about, and provides a vivid and accessible picture of what is happening. To illustrate his theme that the law often is ill-equipped to assimilate scientific findings, Faigman uses topics like gray wolves, the space station and our beloved SUV's. For what at first might sound like a "heavy" topic, the book flows right along, nicely spiced with the author's wry observations. I'd recommend this book to anyone whatever their background -- lawyer, scientist or someone who simply is interested in hot social topics.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Legal Alchemy is necessary reading for any citizen., September 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Legal Alchemy: The Use & Misuse of Science in the Law (Hardcover)

Legal Alchemy provides a thoughtful, engaging and genuinely entertaining guide to the scientific and not-so-scientific information on which law-making in our society is often premised. Its numerous illustrations provide a basis for evaluating the law and policies purportedly generated by science, as well as a caution about leaving our lawmaker's use of science unchecked. Legal Alchemy is essential reading for everyone who is affected by law and law-making (i.e., everyone).

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Discussion of Science and Law for the Layperson, September 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Legal Alchemy: The Use & Misuse of Science in the Law (Hardcover)

Legal Alchemy is a nicely written and accurate description of the difficulties lawmakers face when judging science. In my twenty years experience writing and teaching about the use of science, particularly statistics, in law, I have never read such an engaging, thorough discussion of how the lawmakers turn scientific dross into gold and scientific gold into legal dross. This book is perfect for the layperson interested in the use of science in law. It contains innumerable examples of how scientific developments are treated in law and policy and discussion of all of the most important legal cases dealing with scientific evidence. Perhaps best of all, it contains Faigman's sound and well-reasoned judgments of various questions of scientific and legal policy.

Legal Alchemy presents science and law at the perfect level for the intelligent lay person. I include judges, legislators, and lawyers in that group because, while knowledgeable about law, few know anything about science. To those lawmakers seeking a more detailed description of the science relevant to specific legal issues, I highly recommend another of Faigman's works, a multi-volume treatise titled MODERN SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE.

As to the critical comments from a reviewer on May 4, 2000, I cannot imagine what was motivating that person. I find Faigman's understanding of science and statistics to be more than adequate to the task. Most of Faigman's discussion of statistics appears in Chapter III. He does not explain statistics the way one statistician would to another statistician, and the lay reader will be thankful. He does explain the methodology correctly and thoroughly. I see no grounds for complaint. One who doubts Faigman's understanding of science should consult MODERN SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE, mentioned in the previous paragraph.