Analysing the influence of emotions in judicial decision-making process in Uganda, a case study on the high court of Uganda Kampala.

Abstract

This Study Explores the Intricate Relationship Between Emotions and Judicial Decision Making in Uganda's High Court. It Investigates how Emotions Shape Judges Decision , including the Following of the Sentencing Guidelines, Examining the Role of Emotional Intelligence and Bias. The Research Reveals that Emotions Significantly Influence Mitigating Bias. The Findings Underscore the Need for Emotional Awareness Training and Reforms to Enhance Fairness and Impartiability in Uganda's justice system. It Follows therefore that Judges are Humans Who are also at a Stake of Being Influenced by their Emotions. The Study will Further Explore the Idea that Judicial Decision are Influenced by Emotions, Despite the Long Standing Ideal of Judicial Dispassion, is Increasingly Supported by Academic Research and Empirical Studies however all Studies Tend not to Critically Delve into the Merits and Legal Perspective. This Research will Investigate the ways in which Judges Experience, Express, or are Influenced by Emotion Related Phenomenon and Clearly Show how these Emotions can Influence their Decisions. This Research does not Seek to Juxtapose the Great work Judicial Officers do in Adjudicating Matters with Impartiality, nor does it Engage Deeply with Judicial Legitimate Practices, but Brings a Novel Perspective in Uganda's Jurisprudence that Judicial Officers are also Human Beings not Aliens and hence forth can be Driven by Emotions in Making their Court Decisions. The Researcher makes Recommendation in Order to Overcome Such Vice in our Judicial System.