Courts and judges may not understand how science works, but they understand how false statements work. They have centuries of experience with that. Libel, slander, lying under oath, false testimony, perjury... they've seen it all, over and over and over and over.
Willful data manipulation? They may see it more often with financial data, but they've seen it, rather often. And they aren't finance experts either, but they still deal with it competently.
The alternative is that science exists outside the legal system. A scientist can engage in misconduct in a way that gets believed for a while and results in multiple deaths, with no legal consequences? That can't be right.
Willful data manipulation? They may see it more often with financial data, but they've seen it, rather often. And they aren't finance experts either, but they still deal with it competently.
The alternative is that science exists outside the legal system. A scientist can engage in misconduct in a way that gets believed for a while and results in multiple deaths, with no legal consequences? That can't be right.