Justice isn't blind, but it sure is hungry

[LnGrrrR]

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/no...ons-of-judges/

The graph above is almost the visual embodiment of Frank’s catchphrase. It’s the work of Shai Danziger from Ben Gurion University of the Negev, and summarises the results of 1,112 parole board hearings in Israeli prisons, over a ten month period. The vertical axis is the proportion of cases where the judges granted parole. The horizontal axis shows the order in which the cases were heard during the day. And the dotted lines, they represent the points where the judges went away for a morning snack and their lunch break.

The graph is dramatic. It shows that the odds that prisoners will be successfully paroled start off fairly high at around 65% and quickly plummet to nothing over a few hours (although, see footnote). After the judges have returned from their breaks, the odds abruptly climb back up to 65%, before resuming their downward slide. A prisoner’s fate could hinge upon the point in the day when their case is heard.

I guess if you're going to a court hearing, ask them if they can schedule it after lunch.

[boutons_deux]

Nutrition isn't important, just eat any old . A calorie is a calorie.

My guess is that there is a similar finding from a study of judges' sleep deficits.

[LnGrrrR]

My guess is that there is a similar finding from a study of judges' sleep deficits.

Probably, but I think this study is a bit more surprising. Everyone knows that sleep deprivation can affect one's decision-making, but people don't tend to think about breaks making a difference.

[boutons_deux]

"Everyone knows that ...."

... blood sugar troughs, low blood sugar, hypoglycemia, make babies cry and judges grumpy.

[LnGrrrR]

"Everyone knows that ...."

... blood sugar troughs, low blood sugar, hypoglycemia, make babies cry and judges grumpy.

Definitely. But it's scary to see just how much it affects the judges' decisions.

[boutons_deux]

"how much it affects the judges' decisions"

chronic sleep deficits and unstable serum glucose affects EVERYBODY's decisions.

[LnGrrrR]

"how much it affects the judges' decisions"

chronic sleep deficits and unstable serum glucose affects EVERYBODY's decisions.

Of course. But usually, the extent of the problem isn't visible, and doesn't easily show up in a metrical way. Plus, it's not like some tired, hungry person who then doesn't fix a stereo correctly; it's a judge determining appeals, with a person's possible freedom on the line.