CRN43  Innovations in Judging

Organizers

Cari Hyde-Vaamonde, Brian Barry, Toby Goldbach

This CRN brings together academics and judges to focus on the changing role of judges in courts and tribunals in a wide range of jurisdictions. The CRN particularly focusses on the increasing proactiveness by judiciaries and the significant evolution of the roles required of judges, over and above adjudicative decision-making functions. These roles can include judges using mediation, therapeutic justice interventions as well as a suite of facilitative and responsive techniques which may promote dispute settlement and be underpinned by a focus on judicial communication and procedural justice. The second primary focus of the CRN is on the use of technology (both present and future) by judges and courts, and critically evaluating the impact of such technologies on the work of judiciaries around the globe.

The CRN collaboratively engages in dialogue and research to explore the concept of ‘innovations in judging’ with a vision to contribute to the justice sector in a meaningful and influential way. The CRN assists to create and develop new and potentially influential models, frameworks, innovative approaches and knowledge of diverse practices in the important area of judicial work. The CRN contributes to the development of a greater understanding of the concept of judicial dispute resolution and associated trends within judiciaries, which in turn contributes to the effectiveness of justice systems and processes. There are particular CRN research focus areas that include the empirical assessment of various judicial approaches, comparative judicial arrangements and approaches, therapeutic jurisprudence, judicial dispute resolution, the impact of technology on the judicial role and the impact of various social and other changes on the judiciary.