Black Judges and the Representation of Black Legal Interests

• In Event: Race, Gender, and the Judiciary

Abstract

This paper centers on Black state court judges, revealing the links between their racial group identities, role orientation, and judicial behaviors. Drawing on interviews and surveys with Black judges, I share the extent to which Black judges perceive themselves to represent Black interests and people, and the role they see themselves playing in the legal system. But more importantly, this paper presents the myriad ways Black judges behave on and off the bench and the rationale these judges employ to explain their behaviors. This study of Black judges demonstrates that law and court scholars need to look at judges' identities and beyond judges' final case decisions to better understand judicial behavior.

Author

• Taneisha Nicole Means, Vassar College