Role of Empathy in Judicial Decision-Making

Th is article examines the role of empathy in judicial decision-making from the perspective of virtue ethics. It starts with an exploration of virtue ethics and extends to an examination of empathy, concentrating on its affective, cognitive, and compassionate aspects. In effect, the article considers one of the essential traits and skills of a 'good' judge, emphasizing the significance of this discourse for shaping judicial decision-making. Two prominent U. S. Supreme Court cases are highlighted to showcase the potential impact and importance of empathy in legal proceedings. Th e article further explores how empathy can be developed among legal practitioners. Ultimately, this article argues that while empathy can be generally deemed a virtue, its appropriateness is highly context dependent.