Judge's Competence in Sentencing

[Maxine Rockoff <mrockoff@rnd.stern.nyu.edu>]

Having just read your report on the sentencing of the hackers by
a judge who didn't understand the technical issues, it occurred to
me that you might be interested in a report recently published by
the Carnegie Commission on Science, Technology, and Government called
"Science and Technology in Judicial Decision Making:  Creating Opportunities
and Meeting Challenges."  Just send a message requesting the report
with your physical mail address to 

carnegie@acf1.nyu.edu

The recent Supreme Court decision in the Daubert - Merrell Dow
case gives judges a lot of responsibility in deciding what evidence
to allow.  Judges will have to become adept at getting up to speed
on technical issues -- at least to be able to qualify expert witnesses
and testimony.  The Commission's report urges just such responsibility.

Maxine L. Rockoff
formerly Senior Administrator, Carnegie Commission on Science, Technology,
and Government