A University of New Mexico School of Law student journal has published a special issue analysing legal issues related to the storyline of Breaking Bad and what might have happened if the real-life legal system was imposed on the fictional characters.
An edition of the New Mexico Law Review looks at the war on drugs, the hypothetical arrest of Walter White and questionable practices of defence lawyer Saul Goodmanfrom the television series that generated an international cult following. Editor Matthew Zidovsky said students wanted to use the fictional show to discuss serious legal issues like the Fourth Amendment and professional lawyer ethics all features that were central to the series.
Breaking Bad follows former high school teacher Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, producing methamphetamine with a former student, Jesse Pinkman, played by Aaron Paul.
Bob Odenkirk plays sleazy attorney Saul Goodman, who defends drug lords, criminals and those allegedly injured in minor traffic accidents.
Among the articles in the review is a piece by Western State College of Law professor Elizabeth Jones who compares the questionable police tactics by officers in “Breaking Bad” to the U.S. Justice Department’s harsh report into Albuquerque police over excessive force.
Another piece by Utah State University political science professor Greg Goelzhauser looks at the potential prosecution of Walter White to examine how states with no death penalty may affect federal death penalty cases. New Mexico, where Breaking Bad is set, does not have the death penalty any longer.
