Using Science Education for Lawyers to Uphold the Principles of Justice Laid out in Blackstone’s Ratio

The criminal justice principles laid out by Blackstone’s ratio are at risk of being eroded by legal professionals prioritising rational legal decision-making over the evaluation of substantive scientific concerns where the two collide. This is seen in a body of case law from the United States where issues relating to forensic science limitations are raised. The author posits that this is due to legal professionals’ greater familiarity with legal reasoning rather than scientific knowledge, arguing that law schools should harness their position to provide contextual scientific education for their students. This will support science-led decision-making and reduce the risk of miscarriages of justice, striving to uphold the principles of Blackstone’s ratio.