Statistical Science in the Courtroom

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxii

   PDF

2. Interpretation of Evidence, and Sample Size Determination

   • C. G. G. Aitken

   Pages 1-24

3. Statistical Issues in the Application of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines in Drug, Pornography, and Fraud Cases

   • Alan Julian Izenman

   Pages 25-50

4. Interpreting DNA Evidence: Can Probability Theory Help?

   • David J. Balding

   Pages 51-70

5. Statistics, Litigation, and Conduct Unbecoming

   • Seymour Geisser

   Pages 71-85

6. The Consequences of Defending DNA Statistics

   • B. S. Weir

   Pages 87-97

7. DNA Statistics Under Trial in the Australian Adversarial System

   • Janet Chaseling

   Pages 99-124

8. A Likelihood Approach to DNA Evidence

   • Beverly G. Mellen

   Pages 125-141

9. The Choice of Hypotheses in the Evaluation of DNA Profile Evidence

   • Anders Stockmarr

   Pages 143-159

10. On the Evolution of Analytical Proof, Statistics, and the Use of Experts in EEO Litigation

    • Marc Rosenblum

    Pages 161-194

11. A Connecticut Jury Array Challenge

    • David Pollard

    Pages 195-225

12. Issues Arising in the Use of Statistical Evidence in Discrimination Cases

    • Joseph L. Gastwirth

    Pages 227-243

13. Statistical Consulting in the Legal Environment

    • Charles R. Mann

    Pages 245-262

14. Epidemiological Causation in the Legal Context: Substance and Procedures

    • Sana Loue

    Pages 263-280

15. Judicial Review of Statistical Analyses in Environmental Rulemakings

    • Wendy E. Wagner

    Pages 281-301

16. Statistical Testimony on Damages in Minnesota v. Tobacco Industry

    • Scott L. Zeger, Timothy Wyant, Leonard S. Miller, Jonathan Samet

    Pages 303-320

17. Statistical Issues in the Estimation of the Causal Effects of Smoking Due to the Conduct of the Tobacco Industry

    • Donald B. Rubin

    Pages 321-351

18. Forensic Statistics and Multiparty Bayesianism

    • Joseph B. Kadane

    Pages 353-362

19. Warranty Contracts and Equilibrium Probabilities

    • Nozer D. Singpurwalla

    Pages 363-377

20. Death and Deterrence: Notes on a Still Inchoate Judicial Inquiry

    • Robert J. Cottrol

    Pages 379-391

Expert testimony relying on scientific and other specialized evidence has come under increased scrutiny by the legal system. A trilogy of recent U.S. Supreme Court cases has assigned judges the task of assessing the relevance and reliability of proposed expert testimony. In conjunction with the Federal judiciary, the American Association for the Advancement of Science has initiated a project to provide judges indicating a need with their own expert. This concern with the proper interpretation of scientific evidence, especially that of a probabilistic nature, has also occurred in England, Australia and in several European countries. Statistical Science in the Courtroom is a collection of articles written by statisticians and legal scholars who have been concerned with problems arising in the use of statistical evidence. A number of articles describe DNA evidence and the difficulties of properly calculating the probability that a random individual's profile would "match" that of the evidence as well as the proper way to intrepret the result. In addition to the technical issues, several authors tell about their experiences in court. A few have become disenchanted with their involvement and describe the events that led them to devote less time to this application. Other articles describe the role of statistical evidence in cases concerning discrimination against minorities, product liability, environmental regulation, the appropriateness and fairness of sentences and how being involved in legal statistics has raised interesting statistical problems requiring further research.

• likelihood
• probability
• probability theory
• statistics

From the reviews:

TECHNOMETRICS

"Any statistician and probably most lawyers can pick this book up and find it both enjoyable and valuable to read. It is certainly the best available tool to support either group in the effective use of expert witness testimony from statisticians in the courtroom."

 

• Department of Statistics, George Washington University, USA

  Joseph L. Gastwirth

Policies and ethics