Work

The Influence of Public Opinion and Media on Judicial Decision-Making: Elite Judges’ Perceptions and Strategies

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: Numerous studies have established that public opinion and the media influence judges in their decision-making. Previous research has relied predominantly on quantitative approaches. This paper brings a new perspective by employing a different strategy. Based on in-depth interviews with justices of the Czech Constitutional Court, it shows how elite judges think about public opinion and media, and the influence of these on judicial decision-making. The paper creates a typology of different judicial styles and attitudes towards media and public opinion. It shows that one polar category of judges employs deliberate strategies to affect the media and draw public opinion on their side. In contrast, the opposite one seeks to minimize or even avoid public and media exposure.

Source: International Journal for Court Administration

DOI: 10.36745/ijca.528

Authors: Monika Hanych, Hubert Smekal, Jaroslav Benák

Institutions: Masaryk University, National University of Ireland, Maynooth

Language: English

Topic: Judicial and Constitutional Studies

Subfield: Law

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Grantová Agentura České Republiky