Abstract
The empirical study of judicial emotion has enormous but largely untapped potential to illuminate a previously underexplored aspect of judging, its processes, outputs, and impacts. After defining judicial emotion, this article proposes a theoretical taxonomy of approaches to its empirical exploration. It then presents and analyses extant examples of such research, with a focus on how the questions they ask fit within the taxonomy and the methods they use to answer those questions. It concludes by identifying areas for growth in the disciplined, data-based exploration of the many facets of judicial emotion. El estudio empírico de las emociones en la judicatura tiene un potencial enorme, pero poco explorado, para arrojar luz sobre un aspecto de la profesión judicial poco explorado previamente, sus procesos, resultados y efectos. Tras definir la emoción judicial, el artículo propone una taxonomía teórica de abordajes a su estudio empírico. Después, presenta y analiza ejemplos existentes de esa investigación, poniendo especial atención en la forma en que las preguntas que se formulan encajan en la taxonomía y en los métodos que utilizan para responder a aquéllas. Concluye identificando áreas de crecimiento en el estudio disciplinado y basado en datos de las múltiples facetas de la emoción judicial.
Highlights
How do we go about learning what we want to know about emotion and judging? Empirical work on judicial emotion both shows tremendous potential and is in tremendous need of growth
The first – judicial emotional experience – captures episodic experiences judges have in connection with their work, such as discrete instances of sadness, anger, pleasure, or joy, no matter their time duration
The primacy of such items is reflected in many questions in the interview protocol, such as “Can you tell me about a time you got angry at work?”, “when you felt angry, did you do anything in particular to try and cope with that feeling?”, and “do you talk with other judges about the emotionally challenging aspects of your job?”
Summary
Empirical work on judicial emotion both shows tremendous potential and is in tremendous need of growth. This article aims to support such growth by framing, describing, and analysing the questions that empirical researchers of judicial emotion are asking; identifying and evaluating the methods we are using to answer them; and proposing present areas of strength and need. It presents a snapshot of an unfolding research field in the hope of motivating a wide range of researchers to pursue the project within a common frame
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