Work

The humanising imperative for effective participation: Humean virtues and the limits of procedural justice

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Procedural justice considerations have long justified both the instrumental and intrinsic value of effective participation among court users, where ideals of impartiality, dignity and fairness remain pre-eminent. However, recent developments in socio-legal research as well as legal policy and practice point to an inchoate normative reframing of the law beyond procedural justice grounds, based on what we call the humanising imperative for effective participation. We utilise the philosophy of Hume to elucidate its distinctive features, namely the significance of partiality and the virtues of humanity. The paper further explores the putative enactment of the humanising imperative in three court settings in England and Wales – the Court of Protection, criminal courts and inquests – that indicates the precarity of this orientation in relation to procedural justice principles.

Source: International Journal of Law in Context

DOI: 10.1017/s1744552325000060

Authors: Camillia Kong, Jessica Jacobson, Penny Cooper

Institutions: Queen Mary University of London, Birkbeck, University of London

Language: English

Topic: Legal Rights and Human Rights

Subfield: Law

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,550