To Be or Not to Be Emotional During a Trial
Short description
The study aims to advance knowledge about the objectivity of judges and lay judges in theory and in practice. Simply put, objectivity refers to the ability and capacity to act in a manner that is not dependent on personal feelings or bias. To ensure objective and independent courts, objective judges are essential.
About the project
In theory, judges and lay judges should base their decisions solely on facts and consider all circumstances of a case in a comprehensive and objective manner. Legally irrelevant factors should not influence the decision-making process. However, there is an inherent space for discretionary judgement, and participants in legal proceedings have always sought ways to influence court decisions.
Funding and Expertise
The project is funded by the Swedish Research Council and is based at the Department of Law, University of Gothenburg. The University of Gothenburg is the principal research institution for the study. The project will be carried out by researcher Svitlana Rak, who holds a PhD in criminal law and has a particular research interest in rhetoric and legal argumentation. The project’s mentor is Moa Bladini, Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer. Her research interests lie in the fields of criminal law and procedural law.