Multiple Constraint Satisfaction in Judging

19 Pages Posted: 15 May 2008

See all articles by Jennifer K. Robbennolt

Jennifer K. Robbennolt

University of Illinois College of Law

Robert MacCoun

Stanford Law School

John M. Darley

Princeton University

Date Written: May 14, 2008

Abstract

Different models of judicial decision making highlight particular goals. Traditional legal theory posits that in making decisions judges strive to reach the correct legal decision as dictated by precedent. Attitudinal and strategic models focuses on the ways in which judges further their preferred policies. The managerial model emphasizes the increasing caseload pressures that judges at all levels face. Each model accurately captures some of what every judge does some of the time, but a sophisticated understanding of judicial decision making should explicitly incorporate the notion that judges simultaneously attempt to further numerous, disparate, and often conflicting, objectives. We offer a preliminary account of a more psychologically plausible account of judicial cognition and motivation, based on principles of goal management in a constraint satisfaction network.

Keywords: Judging; Judicial decision making

JEL Classification: K10, K20, K30, K40

Suggested Citation

Robbennolt, Jennifer K. and MacCoun, Robert and Darley, John M., Multiple Constraint Satisfaction in Judging (May 14, 2008). Illinois Public Law Research Paper No. 08-22, UC Berkeley Public Law Research Paper No. 11333184, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1133184 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1133184

Jennifer K. Robbennolt (Contact Author)

University of Illinois College of Law ( email )

504 E. Pennsylvania Avenue
Champaign, IL 61820
United States
217-333-6623 (Phone)

Robert MacCoun

Stanford Law School ( email )

559 Nathan Abbott Way
Stanford, CA 94305-8610
United States
650-721-7031 (Phone)

John M. Darley

Princeton University ( email )

1-N-17 Green Hall
Princeton, NJ 08544
United States
609-258-3000 (Phone)

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