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Relative Judgments

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  • Adi Leibovitch

Abstract

This paper presents a theory of relative judgments, suggesting that judges evaluate individual cases on the basis of how those cases are ranked in comparison to the other cases in their caseloads. Consequently, judges view a case more severely when their caseloads contain milder cases and more leniently when their caseloads contain graver cases. The paper develops a novel empirical identification strategy that exploits the properties of caseload distribution under random assignment of cases as a source of exogenous variation in judicial exposure to gravity. Using sentencing data, I construct a matched sample of judges randomly located at different ends of the caseloads distribution and demonstrate the existence of relative-judgment bias in their decisions. Judges exposed to lower levels of criminal gravity order longer sentences and are more likely to use the aggravated sentencing guidelines range or depart above the sentencing guidelines recommendations than judges exposed to higher levels of criminal gravity.

Suggested Citation

  • Adi Leibovitch, 2016. "Relative Judgments," The Journal of Legal Studies, University of Chicago Press, vol. 45(2), pages 281-330.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlstud:doi:10.1086/687376
    DOI: 10.1086/687376
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kahneman, Daniel & Schkade, David & Sunstein, Cass R, 1998. "Shared Outrage and Erratic Awards: The Psychology of Punitive Damages," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 49-86, April.
    2. Steven D. Levitt & John A. List, 2007. "What Do Laboratory Experiments Measuring Social Preferences Reveal About the Real World?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 21(2), pages 153-174, Spring.
    3. Matthew Rabin & Joel L. Schrag, 1999. "First Impressions Matter: A Model of Confirmatory Bias," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 114(1), pages 37-82.
    4. David S. Abrams & Marianne Bertrand & Sendhil Mullainathan, 2012. "Do Judges Vary in Their Treatment of Race?," The Journal of Legal Studies, University of Chicago Press, vol. 41(2), pages 347-383.
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    Cited by:

    1. Claudine Desrieux & Romain Espinosa & Michael Visser, 2022. "Simultaneous Decision Making of Juries: Evidence From the Paris Labor Court," Working Papers hal-04104190, HAL.
    2. Claudine Desrieux & Romain Espinosa & Michael Visser, 2024. "Does Exposure to Concurrent Cases Affect Judicial Decisions? Evidence from the Paris Labor Court," Working Papers 2024-09, Center for Research in Economics and Statistics.

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