Judges are crazy too

A whole chapter of Otherwise is entitled "People Are Crazy."

The idea is that, before trying to understand the Other, it's important to remember that other people as rational as we are. Which is not saying much.

The chapter cites a number of psychological and social studies that demonstrate the extent to which our supposedly rational judgments are influenced -- and sometimes even spring from -- factors outside our conscious experience.

Here's a recent study that would have made it into the book had I not already delivered the manuscript (and weren't inclined to test my editor's already strained patience):

Researchers at Ben Gurion University in Israel and Columbia University have concluded that the scales of justice tip in favor of defendants when the judge has had a good meal.

Researchers examined more than 1,000 rulings on convicts’ parole requests. Judges granted 65 percent of requests they heard at the beginning of the day’s session and almost none at the end. Right after a snack break, approvals jumped back to 65 percent again.

Justice isn't blind.  Just hungry.

 

 

 

Comments

[Superannuation Funds Australia]

If that's the case I guess we need them to have a break every trial for them to have their decision/verdict laid immediately so that it wont take several numbers of years before a single case be solved. But I doubt if they could come up a fair judge. LOL

[Indiana Furnace Repair]

Hmmm... I guess like any other man they just need a break and eat, to think more fast and broadly. LOL

[IT courses]

Are judicial rulings based solely on laws and facts? Legal formalism holds that judges apply legal reasons to the facts of a case in a rational, mechanical, and deliberative manner.