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- Title
CONTRITION IN THE COURTROOM: DO APOLOGIES AFFECT ADJUDICATION?
- Authors
Rachlinski, Jeffrey J.; Guthrie, Chris; Wistrich, Andrew J.
- Abstract
Apologies usually help to repair social relationships and appease aggrieved parties. Previous research has demonstrated that in legal settings, apologies influence how litigants and juries evaluate both civil and criminal defendants. Judges, however, routinely encounter apologies offered for instrumental reasons, such as to reduce a civil damage award or fine, or to shorten a criminal sentence. Frequent exposure to insincere apologies might make judges suspicious of or impervious to apologies. In a series of experimental studies with judges as research participants, we find that in some criminal settings, apologies can induce judges to be more lenient, but overall, apologizing to a judge is often unhelpful and can even be harmful.
- Subjects
UNITED States; APOLOGIZING; DECISION making in law; CIVIL defendants; JURY; CRIMINAL sentencing -- Social aspects; JURORS' attidudes; CRIMINAL defendants; ATTITUDES of judges; SOCIAL history
- Publication
Cornell Law Review, 2013, Vol 98, Issue 5, p1189
- ISSN
0010-8847
- Publication type
Article