A Nonprofit Dedicated to Improving the Fairness and Reliability of Criminal Trials Through Rigorous Empirical Analysis.
We work at the intersection of law and science to provide objective, evidence-based insight into how trial conditions affect case outcomes.
Our work is used by litigators, courts, and researchers to better understand questions that are often central—but difficult to answer—with traditional legal tools alone.
Mission
We are committed to advancing a fundamentally fair criminal justice system by bringing empirical evidence to questions of prejudice, reliability, and outcome. When legal standards turn on probability, effect, or impact, those questions should be evaluated using appropriate scientific methods.
Core Values
Fair Trial Analysis does not advocate for the prosecution or the defense. Our role is to provide neutral, methodologically grounded analysis that assists decision-makers in evaluating claims about trial fairness. Independence and objectivity are essential to earning the trust of courts, litigators, and the broader research community.
Structure & Model
Fair Trial Analysis operates with a deliberately lean and efficient structure. Our methods are designed to produce rigorous results without the overhead typically associated with large-scale research efforts. Fairness should not depend on extraordinary resources.
Public Interest Work
A substantial portion of our work is devoted to public-interest cases, including complex capital litigation and post-conviction proceedings. We actively identify cases where empirical analysis may materially inform questions of fairness and, where appropriate, provide support on a pro bono basis.
Founder
Fair Trial Analysis was founded by Barry C. Edwards, J.D., Ph.D., whose work focuses on the intersection of legal doctrine and empirical methods. His work has been published in leading academic journals and law reviews and forms the foundation of the organization’s approach.
Who We Serve
Fair Trial Analysis is designed to serve multiple audiences with a shared interest in accuracy, fairness, and methodological integrity. Our work is designed for people who need rigorous, objective analysis of fairness in high-stakes criminal cases—especially when traditional legal tools leave important empirical questions unresolved.