A radical new idea: what if we tested laws before passing them? (Um, guys, we have this concept of equal protection that might throw a spanner in the works.)

Law lab (A radical new idea: what if we tested laws before passing them?) - The Boston Globe:

Image via Boston Globe

There are certainly potential problems with this vision. First is the question of effectiveness: In some cases, it may prove too difficult to run an accurate test. The full repercussions of laws often take years to manifest themselves, and small-scale experiments do not always translate well to larger settings. Also at issue is fairness. Americans expect to be treated equally under the law, and this approach, by definition, entails disparate treatment.