The Realism of Race in Judicial Decision Making: An Empirical Analysis of Plaintiffs' Race and Judges' Race

27 Pages Posted: 19 Mar 2013

See all articles by Pat K. Chew

Pat K. Chew

University of Pittsburgh - School of Law

Robert E. Kelley

Carnegie Mellon University - David A. Tepper School of Business

Date Written: March 1, 2013

Abstract

American society is becoming increasingly diverse. At the same time, the federal judiciary continues to be predominantly White. What difference does this make? This article offers an empirical answer to that question through an extensive study of workplace racial harassment cases. It finds that judges of different races reach different conclusions, with non-African American judges less likely to hold for the plaintiffs. It also finds that plaintiffs of different races fare differently, with African Americans the most likely to lose and Hispanics the most likely to be successful. Finally, countering the formalism model’s tenet that judges are color-blind, the results suggest that judges of one race are more likely to hold for plaintiffs of the same race, suggesting a tendency toward insider group preferences. These findings illustrate the complex race dynamics in judicial decision-making and the consequences of a judiciary that does not reflect the citizenry’s racial diversity.

Keywords: civil rights, race discrimination, decision-making, empirical research, employment practice, courts, judges, workplace racial harassment, racial diversity, judiciary, race dynamics, implicit racial bias

JEL Classification: J21, J29, J70, J71, J79, K31, K39

Suggested Citation

Chew, Pat K. and Kelley, Robert E., The Realism of Race in Judicial Decision Making: An Empirical Analysis of Plaintiffs' Race and Judges' Race (March 1, 2013). Harvard Journal on Racial & Ethnic Justice, Vol. 28, p. 91, 2012, U. of Pittsburgh Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2013-07, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2226650

Pat K. Chew (Contact Author)

University of Pittsburgh - School of Law ( email )

3900 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
United States
412-648-1378 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.pitt.edu/people/pat-k-chew

Robert E. Kelley

Carnegie Mellon University - David A. Tepper School of Business ( email )

5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
United States

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