Evaluating Judges and Judicial Institutions: Reorienting the Perspective

8 Pages Posted: 2 Mar 2010

See all articles by Mitu Gulati

Mitu Gulati

University of Virginia School of Law

David Klein

Eastern Michigan University

David F. Levi

Duke University - School of Law

Date Written: February 23, 2010

Abstract

In September 2009, we hosted an unusual workshop at Duke Law School. The workshop focused on the empirical evaluation of judges, judging, and judicial institutions. Most work in this area has been driven by the agendas and constraints of empirical researchers, and empiricists from multiple disciplines — including history, sociology, anthropology, political science, and law and economics — participated in the workshop. But they were joined by judges and legal theorists, who were invited to take the lead in selecting the specific issues to be discussed at the workshop. The reason for the workshop’s unusual makeup and structure was our conviction that the empirical analysis of judging can be dramatically strengthened through the active participation of judges and theorists. In this Essay, we explain why we think conversations among these three groups are important. Then, drawing on the workshop experience, we describe where and how we believe that cooperation could do the most to advance the empirical study of the judiciary, with special attention to issues of evaluation.

Keywords: judicial performance, judges, judicial behavior, empirical research

Suggested Citation

Gulati, Mitu and Klein, David and Levi, David F., Evaluating Judges and Judicial Institutions: Reorienting the Perspective (February 23, 2010). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1561662 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1561662

Mitu Gulati (Contact Author)

University of Virginia School of Law ( email )

580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
United States

David Klein

Eastern Michigan University ( email )

Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
United States

David F. Levi

Duke University - School of Law ( email )

210 Science Drive
Box 90362
Durham, NC 27708
United States
919-613-7001 (Phone)

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