Judicial Perspectives on Emotion, Emotion Management, and Judicial Excellence in the USA

Jennifer K Elek

doi:10.35295/osls.iisl/0000-0000-0000-1033

Authors

Jennifer K Elek National Center for State Courts

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl/0000-0000-0000-1033

Keywords:

Judges, judicial education, emotion and judging

Abstract

In the USA, state court judges receive little to no specialized judicial training prior to assuming the duties of office. To support quality judicial performance, states must make strategic use of limited resources. Formal state systems of judicial education have emerged over the past half-century as one solution to this challenge, providing sitting judges in most jurisdictions with some level of educational support. Despite these advancements, some scholars and practitioners have criticized judicial education to date, calling for a new wave of reforms. One recent study explored judicial perceptions of the types of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics important to judicial work in the state courts. Participating judges acknowledged emotion and interpersonal skills as critical components of judicial excellence (Elek et al. 2017). This paper will examine some of the guidance provided by state court judges in this area and consider opportunities for improvement to better meet judicial needs.

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Author Biography

Jennifer K Elek, National Center for State Courts

Jennifer K. Elek is a senior court research associate at the National Center for State Courts. Her research includes work on systems of judicial professional development; on evidence-based pretrial and sentencing practices, including the use of risk and needs assessment instruments as decision aids; and on strategies to promote fairness and address racial and ethnic disparities in courts. She holds a Ph.D. in experimental psychology.

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