CST215 | Statistics and the Law

Data driven decisions will most likely become the norm or at the very least form an important aspect of passing judgement. Therefore, it is necessary for law students to have the relevant exposure to statistical science and its potential use / misuse in the courtroom. This would be a foundational course. This would be useful for both law and public policy students.

Describe how you have approached the course. What have you included/excluded and why? Choice of materials: primary or secondary readings / case law;

The readings are drawn from court cases in the US where statistical experts were brought in to provide data driven testimony in landmark cases as well as policies impacting the general public (pharmaceutical industry, forensics). Similarly, the India specific cases and materials contextualise the need for collaboration between legal and statistical experts to maximize the efficiency in research and policy.

Additional reading includes published papers as relevant to the appropriate or inappropriate usage of statistical tools in actual legal situations.

One of the recommended books for this course, Statistical Science in the Courtroom is a collection of articles written by statisticians and legal scholars who have been concerned with problems in the use of statistical evidence. Prof. Aparna Chandra’s book on “Court on Trial: A Data-Driven Account of the Supreme Court of India” is the other recommended book to provide an India specific context of statistics and the law.

Legal statistics has raised interesting statistical problems over the years, thereby necessitating further research. For any serious student of law or practising lawyer, as data driven evidence becomes the norm, it is of vital importance to understand the relevance and need for statistical reasoning in the courtroom as an objective complement that aids in strengthening the case. The articles that comprise the primary reading material highlight these objectives.