Per Wickenberg
Professor emeritus
Norm Formation from the Inside of a Court
Author
Editor
- Lee A. Bygrave
Summary, in English
ABSTRACT
The overarching aim of this sociology of law study is to explore internal processes at a court to get deeper knowledge of norms within this legal organisation. The point of departure is a specific research interest in studying professional norms on ‘good treatment’ in a local court. Another aim is to study the importance that the internal professional norms have on the external treatment of visitors and customers to the court. The research questions are exploring the internal professional norms on ‘good treatment’: From where or from whom are the expectations on a ‘good treatment’ in this court coming? Which are the driving forces behind ‘good treatment’?
In 2010 and 2011 we studied how the staff at this court met external visitors and customers. The result was that plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses, lawyers, solicitors, prosecutors, common visitors and citizens overall were met in a ‘good’ way. In 2012 we made a pilot study on the driving forces behind ‘good treatment’ by the court staff and also explored the expectations from different actors and legal documents at the court – and received interesting empirical findings. During 2015 the same study as 2012 was repeated.
The sociology of law analysis are using theoretical and methodological experiences gained from different norm studies developed during the late fifteen years within the research at sociology of law, Lund University.
The overarching aim of this sociology of law study is to explore internal processes at a court to get deeper knowledge of norms within this legal organisation. The point of departure is a specific research interest in studying professional norms on ‘good treatment’ in a local court. Another aim is to study the importance that the internal professional norms have on the external treatment of visitors and customers to the court. The research questions are exploring the internal professional norms on ‘good treatment’: From where or from whom are the expectations on a ‘good treatment’ in this court coming? Which are the driving forces behind ‘good treatment’?
In 2010 and 2011 we studied how the staff at this court met external visitors and customers. The result was that plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses, lawyers, solicitors, prosecutors, common visitors and citizens overall were met in a ‘good’ way. In 2012 we made a pilot study on the driving forces behind ‘good treatment’ by the court staff and also explored the expectations from different actors and legal documents at the court – and received interesting empirical findings. During 2015 the same study as 2012 was repeated.
The sociology of law analysis are using theoretical and methodological experiences gained from different norm studies developed during the late fifteen years within the research at sociology of law, Lund University.
Department/s
- Department of Sociology of Law
Publishing year
2015
Language
English
Publication/Series
Oslo Law Review, OsLaw
Issue
Special issue Spring 2016
Document type
Conference paper
Publisher
University of Oslo, Faculty of Law
Topic
- Law and Society
Keywords
- Key words: court
- norms
- professional norms
- ‘good treatment’
- sociology of law
Conference name
Law and Society in the 21st Century - The functions of Law in a Global Society
Conference date
2015-06-10 - 2015-06-12
Conference place
Oslo, Norway
Status
Submitted
Project
- Normforskningsprojektet, Sociology of Law, Lund University
Research group
- Normforskningsprojektet
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 2387-3299