Working Paper: NBER ID: w27713
Authors: Ozkan Eren; Naci H. Mocan
Abstract: We investigate whether consequential decisions made by judges are impacted by observable characteristics of peer judges. We utilize the universe of decisions on juvenile defendants in each courthouse in a Southern state over fifteen years. Leveraging random assignment of cases to judges, and variations in judge peer composition generated by judicial turnover, we show that an increase in the proportion of female peers in the courthouse causes a rise in individual judges’ propensity to incarcerate, and an increase in prison time. This effect is driven by female judges. Further analysis suggests that this behavior of female judges is likely due to the sheer exposure to female colleagues.
Keywords: judicial decisions; peer effects; juvenile justice; gender dynamics
JEL Codes: D91; J16; J71; K41
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| increase in the proportion of female judges in a courthouse (J16) | increase in the likelihood of incarceration decisions made by judges (K40) |
| increase in the proportion of female judges in a courthouse (J16) | increase in the length of prison sentences (K14) |