Judicial Decision Making

Catalog description

Judges play a central role in the justice system. Despite their importance, judicial decision making remains poorly understood. How do judges make decisions? What influences their rulings? Obviously, the relevant law and the facts of cases matter, but whatother internal or external factors shape their judgments? Drawing on the work of judges, legal scholars, and social scientists, this seminar explores those questions. Among other things, the potential impact of political ideology, religion, race, gender, life experience, cognitive limitations, professional norms, workload, selection and retention, specialization, collegiality, hierarchy, litigant characteristics, and public opinion will be examined. The implications for effective advocacy, court reform, and the achievement of social justice will be addressed.