Neurolaw at the United Nations General Assembly

As the crisp fall air settles over New York City, its transformation is unmistakable—from students returning to school, to pumpkin spice lattes appearing in cafes, to the vibrant changing of the leaves. One of the most significant signs of September in NYC is the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where delegates from around the globe converge to tackle a broad spectrum of issues, including human rights, food insecurity, and international peace.

While much of the spotlight during UNGA shines on these high-profile topics, there’s another crucial yet often underappreciated area: science. The Science Summit, held alongside UNGA, is an event that brings together scientists, policymakers, and innovators to confront the pressing scientific and technological challenges of our time.

This year, the Dana Foundation is excited to partner with the European Brain Council for a special side event at the Science Summit focusing on “Neuroscience & Society: A Life Course Approach to Brain Health.” On September 20, we will be hosting a panel titled “Applying Neuroscience in the Courtroom.” This discussion, organized by Francis Shen (professor at the University of Minnesota and director of the Dana Career Network for Neuroscience & Society), Deborah Denno (professor at Fordham University), and myself, aims to elevate the global dialogue on the intersection of neuroscience and law—a field often referred to as “neurolaw.”

Why does this matter? As neuroscience advances, its role in legal proceedings becomes increasingly significant. Our UNGA panel will explore how neuroscientific evidence is already being used in both criminal and civil cases. Topics will include current applications in criminal sentencing and brain injury litigation, potential future uses of brain evidence, challenges in applying group-level research to individual cases, international differences in evidentiary standards for neuroscience, and the evolving landscape of neurolaw.

Our distinguished panel includes:

• Deborah Denno, Fordham University – moderator
• Diego Alejandro Borbón Rodríguez, Universidad Externado de Colombia – panelist
• Oliver Rollins, Massachusetts Institute of Technology – panelist
• Judge Gloria Tan, Massachusetts Juvenile Court – panelist

For context, the Dana Foundation has been deeply involved in supporting neuroscience education for judges. Since 2006, in partnership with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and other judicial education organizations, the Foundation has supported 34 in-person seminars and five online webinars on “Emerging Issues in Neuroscience.” These seminars across the United States involved 579 participants and five online webinars with an estimated 275 attendees. A recent evaluation of the AAAS education program showed:

• 77% strongly agreed they learned new, pertinent information about neuroscience for legal proceedings.
• 71% felt the seminars increased their knowledge, understanding, and confidence in neuroscience topics.
• 74% reported being able to apply this knowledge in relevant legal cases.

In 2015, the Dana Foundation provided funding for the Royal Society’s Science and Law program, which allowed judges, lawyers, and scientists in the UK to attend seminars to assist the judiciary when handling scientific evidence in the courtroom. More recently, in 2022, we funded the Flaschner Judicial Institute in collaboration with the Center for Law, Brain & Behavior at Massachusetts General Hospital to develop a new model for judicial neuroscience training. This approach involved intensive, focused workshops over the course of a year within a single jurisdiction. We look forward to sharing about the results of this innovative program.

As neuroscience continues to evolve and permeate various aspects of our lives, not only in the US but internationally, its integration into legal systems becomes ever more important. The Dana Foundation is one of the organizations supporting this field, yet addressing the complexities at the intersection of neuroscience and law necessitates the collective commitment of many contributors. I invite you to join us for the Neuroscience & Society event at the UNGA Science Summit on September 20^th to gain insights into how neuroscience is shaping the future of law and justice.

To participate virtually in the UNGA Science Summit Neuroscience & Society event, please register here. I look forward to sharing this important discussion with you.