http://www.forumonlawcultureandsociety.org/blog/2007/04/11/forum-guest-judge-marilyn-milian/ Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:12:04 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.forumonlawcultureandsociety.org/blog/2007/04/11/forum-guest-judge-marilyn-milian/comment-page-1/#comment-256 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 13:04:00 +0000 http://www.fordhamlawhosting.org/blog/?p=148#comment-256 In behavioral research, we try to identify and control sources of rater bias in determining the reliability and validity of an assessment. Scott Turow's discussion of judges' "backstories" is a step in that direction. In the case of TV courtrooms, one might ask, what additional distortions of judgment are contributed by the venue? Among these we should consider special conditions, such as the fact that all judgments are paid by court tv producers; special constraints, such as the time allocated to the segment and the desire to make the segment entertaining; special influences, such as awareness of cameras; and special outcomes, such as the effect of broad public exposure on participants. How do these influence justice, both in the judgment and the impact on litigants? We might then determine, on balance, the degree to which the experience has a positive or negative effect on public education.<br/>Peter Irwin In behavioral research, we try to identify and control sources of rater bias in determining the reliability and validity of an assessment. Scott Turow’s discussion of judges’ “backstories” is a step in that direction. In the case of TV courtrooms, one might ask, what additional distortions of judgment are contributed by the venue? Among these we should consider special conditions, such as the fact that all judgments are paid by court tv producers; special constraints, such as the time allocated to the segment and the desire to make the segment entertaining; special influences, such as awareness of cameras; and special outcomes, such as the effect of broad public exposure on participants. How do these influence justice, both in the judgment and the impact on litigants? We might then determine, on balance, the degree to which the experience has a positive or negative effect on public education.
Peter Irwin

]]>