Showcase Panel IV: Law, Science, and Public Policy [2021 National Lawyers Convention]

The 2021 National Lawyers Convention took place November 11-13, 2021 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. The topic of the conference was "Public and Private Power: Preserving Freedom or Preventing Harm?". The final showcase panel explored "Law, Science, and Public Policy."

"Science" as a concept enjoys the trust of the public. Indeed, some make "I trust the Science" a centerpiece for their appeal to the voting public, and this evidently has had some success. Public policy decision-makers often rely on science (or at least they say they do) when making laws and regulations in many areas, including economics, criminal law, environmental regulations technology and bioethics. Scientists, however, are inherently imperfect practitioners of scientific methods, and the law is in many ways anti-science. This creates a natural tension when scientists are called upon to advise public policy. How should we as lawyers assure that science is used properly in the public space, to make policy conform to reality, and not for political goals?

Featuring:

Dr. Steven Benner, Distinguished Fellow, The Westheimer Institute at the Foundation for Applied State Room Molecular Evolution

Prof. I. Glenn Cohen, Harvard Law School

Ms. Christina Sandefur, Executive Vice President, Goldwater Institute

Moderator: Judge Kenneth Lee, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speakers.