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Judges Against Justice pp 237–252Cite as

Beyond Legal Theory as Explanation

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Abstract

Legal positivism is the explanation that is most often suggested to explain why judges contribute to the atrocities of authoritarian regimes. A reason for this is that this explanation accords with two basic facts of judicial behaviour. The first is the tendency judges have, as everyone else, to adhere to authority. Obedience to authority is one of the most important factors that explain why people agree to commit the most horrible offences when ordered to. The second is more particular to judges and has to do with the ideology of not getting involved in politics. Particularly in situations with great political conflicts, taking a stand on the decisions and measures of the leaders of the government is perceived by judges as political action. Authority and avoidance of getting mixed up in politics are explanations of judicial complicity at the psychological and ideological levels.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Osiel (1995), p. 482.

  2. 2.

    Osiel (1995), p. 484.

  3. 3.

    Rüthers (2012), p. 444.

  4. 4.

    Rüthers (2012), p. 526.

  5. 5.

    Curran (2005), p. 488.

  6. 6.

    Weisberg (1996), p. 48.

  7. 7.

    Weisberg (1996), p. 81.

  8. 8.

    Curran (1998–1999), pp. 39–40.

  9. 9.

    Kirchheimer (1961), p. 212, note 78.

  10. 10.

    See pp. 60–68 above.

  11. 11.

    See the analysis of Osiel (1995), pp. 489–510.

  12. 12.

    Osiel (1995), p. 544.

  13. 13.

    Dyzenhaus (2010), p. 53.

  14. 14.

    Rüthers (2007), p. 558.

  15. 15.

    Milgram (2004), p. 17.

  16. 16.

    Browning (1998), p. 71.

  17. 17.

    Pauer-Studer (2012), p. 386.

  18. 18.

    Pauer-Studer (2012), p. 389.

  19. 19.

    Buck v. Bell, Superintendent of State Colony for Epileptics and Feeble Minded, 271 U.S. 200 1927.

  20. 20.

    Welzer (2007), Kindle edition loc. 160.

  21. 21.

    Glover (2012), pp. 407–408.

  22. 22.

    Rüthers (2007), p. 563.

  23. 23.

    Rüthers (2007), p. 502.

  24. 24.

    Angermund (1990), pp. 66–67.

  25. 25.

    Kirchheimer (1961), p. 211.

  26. 26.

    Angermund (1990), pp. 35–40.

  27. 27.

    Kirchheimer (1961), p. 213.

  28. 28.

    Angermund (1990), pp. 48–61.

  29. 29.

    Pereira (2005), location 887–896.

  30. 30.

    See Pauer-Studer (2014).

  31. 31.

    D. Utah, 2004 U.S. v. Angelos 345 F.Supp.2d 1227.

  32. 32.

    See Hilbink (2008), p. 102.

  33. 33.

    Hilbink (2008), pp. 120–129.

  34. 34.

    See Verner (1984), p. 483.

  35. 35.

    Glover (2012), Chapter 19.

  36. 36.

    Stoltzfus (1996), p. 261.

  37. 37.

    Haffner (2003), p. 151.

  38. 38.

    Glover (2012), p. 385.

  39. 39.

    Dugard (1984), p. 292.

  40. 40.

    For a critical discussion of the case and the law and circumstances surrounding it, see Simpson (1988).

  41. 41.

    Liversidge v. Anderson and Morrison (1941) 3 All E.R. 338 (H.L.).

  42. 42.

    US Supreme Court 341 U.S. 494.

  43. 43.

    Abel (2007), p. 397.

  44. 44.

    Rehnquist (1998), loc. 3670.

  45. 45.

    Curran (1998–1999), pp. 27–29.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Law, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Hans Petter Graver

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  1. Hans Petter Graver
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Graver, H.P. (2015). Beyond Legal Theory as Explanation. In: Judges Against Justice. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44293-7_17

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