A Conversation with Judge Posner

17 Pages Posted: 16 Oct 2015

See all articles by Mitu Gulati

Mitu Gulati

University of Virginia School of Law

David F. Levi

Duke University - School of Law

Date Written: October 16, 2015

Abstract

In 2008, Judge Posner published “How Judges Think”, that takes up the prevailing theories about what motivates judges’ decisions and adds his own, heavily grounded in the notion that judges’ experiences and backgrounds play a large role where decision outcomes are uncertain. Judges — at least the vast majority — are pragmatists according to this view, and they seek to maximize various goals within a legal tradition that imposes its own vision of what it is to be a “good judge.”

What follows below is an edited account of a conversation that Judge Posner had with a class on the study of judicial behavior at Duke Law School a few years ago. The class had read the book as part of a year-long review of the empirical literature on judicial decisionmaking. Their conversation with Judge Posner ranged over various topics, including reaction to the book from other judges, Posner’s own experience as a judge, and future directions for empirical studies of the judiciary.

Keywords: Judges, Richard Posner

Suggested Citation

Gulati, Mitu and Levi, David F., A Conversation with Judge Posner (October 16, 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2674990

Mitu Gulati (Contact Author)

University of Virginia School of Law ( email )

580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
United States

David F. Levi

Duke University - School of Law ( email )

210 Science Drive
Box 90362
Durham, NC 27708
United States
919-613-7001 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
109
Abstract Views
637
PlumX Metrics