Science and Judicial Reasoning
The Legitimacy of International Environmental Adjudication

This pioneering study on environmental case-law examines how courts engage with science and reviews legitimate styles of judicial reasoning.

Katalin Sulyok (Author)

9781108747431, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 7 July 2022

430 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 2.2 cm, 0.61 kg

'This is an impressive book which addresses the important and timely topic of how scientific knowledge should be integrated in judicial reasoning. Although the work is focused specifically on international environmental law and adjudication, its theoretical depth and vast analysis of scholarship and practice make it an indispensable tool for any area of international law where judicial decision is confronted with the problem of reconciling 'scientific truth' with the normative imperative of administering justice.' Francesco Francioni, Professor and Chair of International Law, European University Institute, Florence

Science, which inevitably underlies environmental disputes, poses significant challenges for the scientifically untrained judges who decide such cases. In addition to disrupting ordinary fact-finding and causal inquiry, science can impact the framing of disputes and the standard of review. Judges must therefore adopt various tools to adjust the level of science allowed to enter their deliberations, which may fundamentally impact the legitimacy of their reasoning. While neglecting or replacing scientific authority can erode the convincing nature of judicial reasoning, the same authority, when treated properly, may lend persuasive force to adjudicatory findings, and buttress the legitimacy of judgments. In this work, Katalin Sulyok surveys the environmental case law of seven major jurisdictions and analyzes framing techniques, evidentiary procedures, causal inquiries and standards of review, offering valuable insight into how judges justify their choices between rival scientific claims in a convincing and legitimate manner.

Part I. The Three-Fold Challenge of Engaging with Science in International Environmental Adjudication: 1. Introduction to a comparative study on judicial engagement with science
2. The rules of judicial engagement with science: a three-fold challenge
Part II. Techniques for Judicial Engagement with Science in the Practice of International Courts and Tribunals: 3. Judicial engagement with science in the environmental case-law of the international court of justice
4. Science in the practice of inter-state arbitral tribunals
5. Science in the environmental jurisprudence of regional human rights courts
6. Scientific claims before the WTO
7. Science in the practice of investment arbitral tribunals
8. Science appears before the international tribunal for the law of the sea
Part III. Engaging with Scientific Knowledge in the Judicial Reasoning: 9. Trends in judicial engagement with science: a comparative assessment
10. Science and the legitimacy of judicial reasoning
11. Conclusion
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Social impact of environmental issues [RNT], Energy & natural resources law [LNCR], International environmental law [LBBP], Comparative law [LAM], Environmental economics [KCN]