Procedural Justice:Procedural Justice:Practical Skills to Enhance Practical Skills to Enhance Litigant Perceptions of Litigant Perceptions of FairnessFairness

Judge Marcia Hirsch, Queens County Supreme CourtJudge Marcia Hirsch, Queens County Supreme Court

Emily Gold, Center for Court InnovationEmily Gold, Center for Court Innovation

• Research updateResearch update• Hands-on practiceHands-on practice• Implementation planningImplementation planning

This Morning’s Agenda

o VoiceVoice

o RespectRespect

o NeutralityNeutrality

o UnderstandingUnderstanding

Elements of Procedural Justice

Decision AcceptanceDecision AcceptanceProcedural justice is the primary factor in litigantsProcedural justice is the primary factor in litigants’’ willingness willingness to accept decisions – regardless of why the litigant came to to accept decisions – regardless of why the litigant came to court. court.

Tom Tyler, Yale Law School

Research

Decision AcceptanceDecision AcceptanceProcedural justice is the primary factor in litigantsProcedural justice is the primary factor in litigants’’ willingness willingness to accept decisions – regardless of why the litigant came to to accept decisions – regardless of why the litigant came to court. court.

Increased compliance means:•Fewer violations,

revocations, and returns•Smaller dockets•Cost and resource savings

Research

The role of the judge is critical.The role of the judge is critical.• Motivational effect:Motivational effect: Perceptions of the judge are Perceptions of the judge are

the strongest predictor of drug court successthe strongest predictor of drug court success• Supervision effect:Supervision effect: More judicial status hearings More judicial status hearings

lead to reduced crime and drug uselead to reduced crime and drug use• Mentoring effect for other court staff:Mentoring effect for other court staff: Judges set Judges set

the tone for courtroom behaviorthe tone for courtroom behavior

Research

DOJ-funded Improving Courtroom DOJ-funded Improving Courtroom Communication projectCommunication project

•Delaware Justice of the Peace CourtDelaware Justice of the Peace Court

•88thth Judicial District of Colorado Judicial District of Colorado

•1111thth Judicial Circuit of Florida Judicial Circuit of Florida

+ online learning system+ online learning system

Research

In Practice

In Practice

In Practice

EXERCISES

• Short-term (1 week)Short-term (1 week)

• Mid-term (6 months)Mid-term (6 months)

• Long-term (1 year)Long-term (1 year)

Implementation Planning

• Individual levelIndividual level

• Agency levelAgency level

• Courtroom ObservationsCourtroom Observations

• Litigant SurveysLitigant Surveys

• Peer ReviewPeer Review

+ Washington Courts online “Instrument For + Washington Courts online “Instrument For Court Leadership”: Court Leadership”: http://www.courts.wa.gov/education/?http://www.courts.wa.gov/education/?fa=education.pfasurveyfa=education.pfasurvey

Measuring Change

• Center for Court InnovationCenter for Court Innovationwww.courtinnovation.org/proceduraljusticewww.courtinnovation.org/proceduraljustice

• Professor Tom Tyler, Yale Law SchoolProfessor Tom Tyler, Yale Law Schoolwww.law.yale.edu/faculty/TTyler.htmwww.law.yale.edu/faculty/TTyler.htm

• Procedural Fairness for Judges and CourtsProcedural Fairness for Judges and Courtswww.proceduraljustice.orgwww.proceduraljustice.org

• National Center for State Courts National Center for State Courts CourToolsCourToolswww.ncsconline.org/d_research/CourTools/ctTemplates.htmwww.ncsconline.org/d_research/CourTools/ctTemplates.htm

Thank you!Thank you!

ResourcesResources