Extraneous factors in judicial decisions
Danziger, Levav and Avnaim-Pesso examined sequential parole decisions by experienced judges, as a test of the claim that justice is what the judge ate for breakfast. Two daily food breaks split each day into three decision sessions. The share of favourable rulings fell steadily within each session and returned to its starting level after a break. The authors conclude that judicial rulings can be swayed by extraneous variables that should have no bearing on legal decisions.
Danziger, Levav and Avnaim-Pesso examined sequential parole decisions by experienced judges, as a test of the claim that justice is what the judge ate for breakfast. Two daily food breaks split each day into three decision sessions. The share of favourable rulings fell steadily within each session and returned to its starting level after a break. The authors conclude that judicial rulings can be swayed by extraneous variables that should have no bearing on legal decisions.
Written from the abstract read 2026-10-25 via OpenAlex.
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Danziger, S., Levav, J., & Avnaim-Pesso, L. (2011). Extraneous factors in judicial decisions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(17), 6889-6892. doi:10.1073/pnas.1018033108