The legal world is just a reflection of the larger society.
Pseudoscience is a problem in the courtroom because pseudoscience is a problem in society.
Individuals and cultures strive to understand the world around them. Primitive cultures developed sun myths to explain the seasons and various demonologies to explain illness. Modern American culture develops myths to understand the frightening aspect of our culture, such as birth defects and cancer striking down children. If the general public does not understand basic notions of statistics and epidemiology, electricity and chemistry, it is not surprising that these myths are contrary to scientific knowledge. This article discusses the responsibility of scientists to educate the public about science and how this might be done through the addition of a scientific impact statement to published scientific articles.