Indiana Law Journal Volume 84 Issue 1 Article 5 Winter 2009 Scientific vA oidance: Toward More Principled Judicial Review of Legislative Science Emily H. Meazell University of Oklahoma College of Law Follow this and additional works at: https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ilj Part of the Courts Commons, Legislation Commons, and the Science and Technology Law Commons Recommended Citation Meazell, Emily H. (2009) "Scientific vA oidance: Toward More Principled Judicial Review of Legislative Science," Indiana Law Journal: Vol. 84 : Iss. 1 , Article 5. Available at: https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ilj/vol84/iss1/5 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law School Journals at Digital Repository @ Maurer Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in Indiana Law Journal by an authorized editor of Digital Repository @ Maurer Law. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Scientific Avoidance: Toward More Principled Judicial Review of Legislative Science EMILY HAMMOND MEAZELL* Courts increasingly confront legislative enactments made in light of scientific uncertainty. Even so, the degree of deference appropriateto this type ofjudicial review is a moving target, seemingly determinedon an ad hoc, unprincipledbasis. On one hand, the decision of how to legislate in light of scientific uncertainty is quintessentially one of policy, suggesting that the highest degree of deference is appropriate.But certain classes of cases, and certain types of scientific questions, seem singularly inappropriatefor extreme judicial deference. While significant scholarly attentionhas focused on the comparative institutionalcompetence ofcourts and legislatureswith respect to substantive areas of law, analogousconcerns related to science have been overlooked. This Article attempts to fill part of that gap by evaluating the courts' and legislatures' capabilities with respect to science from a comparative perspective.