"A tour de force that explores the rigors of science through the lens of law. An uncompromising look at the promise-and perils-of relying on science in legal decision making. A must-read for those interested in how technology and science affects law and vice versa... Feldman does a masterful job of explaining and evaluating the role of science in a variety of different moments throughout history-from the civil rights movement to abortion to modern patent law." -- Sonia K. Katyal, Fordham Law School "The Role of Science in Law explains and critiques the role of science in the development and application of law, in a manner that is accurate, insightful, and accessible. Professor Feldman identifies a variety of pitfalls that can arise when science is applied woodenly to the solution of complex legal questions, including examples from diverse areas of law and technology, and offers concrete policy recommendations to address these concerns. This book should be of interests not only to academics and policy makers, but anyone interested in exploring the fascinating interplay between law and science." --Christopher Holman, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law "Robin Feldman's book, The Role of Science in Law does many things extremely well. For one, it offers a sober and sensible analysis of the law's use of science and, in particular, the limits of the latter for the edification of the former. What it does best, however, is provide an entertaining introduction to the great challenges posed at the intersection of law and science, ranging in subject widely from copyright protection to equal protection. And her ultimate prescription is eminently reasonable: lawyers must first get the law right and then, and only then, employ good science to achieve just legal ends." - David Faigman, University of California, Hastings College of the Law "Robin Feldman's very wise and sensible book deals with a huge problem. The legal system constantly calls upon on natural and social sciences to answer big questions like: Does abortion end a human life? Is an invention claiming patent protection 'nonobvious'? Does segregation stigmatize racial minorities? Feldman shows how the law reaches out to grab concepts and distinctions from science in the desperate hope that its authority will bring certainty and closure to painful policy choices. In the process the law badly mangles and mistranslates scientific concepts and evidence. Feldman's book is a treasure-house of practical suggestions for raising the value of science for law by clarifying-and lowering- our expectations of what science can do for law." - Robert W. Gordon, Yale Law School "Each chapter of this fascinating book is accessible to legal and scientific scholars, cultural historians, and philosophers of history and science, as well as to attorneys and lay readers. It should be read by all legal and scientific professionals, scholarly or practicing, whose work entails the intermarriage of law and science." --Lynne F. Maxwell, Law Library Journal
