Seeking papers for a conference on "Judicial Reasoning: Art or Science ?"

16/07/2008

The conference is being jointly presented by the ANU College of Law, the National Judicial College of Australia and the Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences. The conference will be held on Saturday, 7 February and Sunday, 8 February 2009 at the Australian National University in Canberra.

Papers are sought which address the following topics:

Judicial reasoning - how judges make decisions

• The influence of social changes
• Judicial values
• Impartiality and unconscious judicial bias�
• Judicial reasoning in fundamental rights cases
• Political influences on judges
• Judicial perceptions of the expert witness

The biology and psychology of judicial reasoning

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Genetics
• Decision science�

Technology influencing judicial reasoning

• Computer assisted judging (sentencing databases)
• Interactive visual evidence
• Science translation

The conference will build on the success of previous multi-disciplinary conferences in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The 2008 conference was� attended by over 250 participants, including 56 members of the judiciary. The 2009 conference will be of interest to� the judiciary, legal practitioners, forensic scientists, psychologists, legal academics, media representatives, community representatives and the public generally.

If you would like to be a contributor please send an expression of interest by 15 August 2008�by e-mail to ea@njca.anu.edu.au; fax: 02 6125 6651 or by mail to:

The Organising Committee PO Box 8102 Australian National University ACT 2601

Please indicate a proposed topic or topics. All proposals will be treated confidentially.

John Mc Ginness (for the Organising Committee) Director National Judicial College of Australia Telephone (02) 6125 6655 Fax: �(02) 6125 6651 Web site www.njca.com.au

16 July 2008

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