Bias on the Bench: Sex, Judges, and Mock Trial Simulations

Given substantial evidence of sex discrimination in the legal profession and the role of attorneys and judges in perpetuating gender stereotypes, educators have an obligation to prepare female students for the challenges they will face, educate students of both sexes about the role of bias in litigation, and seek to mitigate the influence of stereotyping in professional life. The authors' concerns regarding the professional environment their students will face have led them to examine the role of gendered stereotyping in an environment that mimics the one in which female attorneys will operate. This study examines the role of gender stereotyping in assessment of student performances in courtroom simulations, with specific attention to the sex of the judge. Specifically, the authors hope to determine whether men and women employ distinct criteria in assessing students and whether their distinct, gendered experiences lead them to evaluate male and female students differently. (Contains 6 tables.)