Bonding From the Bench: How Judges Connect in the Courtroom

Key points

Judges are unique examples of how positive communication influences perceived fairness.

Speaking directly to parties in court can create social comfort for both parties and litigants.

A courtroom’s “interactional dimensions” can impact the perceived legitimacy of judicial authority.

Many people view judges as impersonal arbiters of justice, identified by both attire and environment, wearing a black robe sitting in a courtroom high on a bench looking down on everyone else, gavel in hand. This environment certainly conveys authority, but definitely does not portray a judicial setting as comfortable, warm, relaxing, or inviting in any sense. Yet through demeanor, direction, and discretion, judges can bond with everyone in the courtroom, including the parties seeking justice, pr