A landmark opioid trial is coming to a close in Cleveland, and it is illustrating in stark terms the far-reaching dangers of judicial finish-line fixation, when judges seem to elevate reaching the end of a trial and getting to a verdict above all else.

The Cleveland opioid trial is immense. It is the first opioid trial to focus on the role of pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens. Billions of dollars potentially hang in the balance. And the trial has already run for a month, with more in store.