The Passions of Law

The Passions of Lawis the first anthology to treat the role that emotions play, don't play, and ought to play in the practice and conception of law and justice. Lying at the intersection of law, psychology, and philosophy, this emergent field of law scholarship raises some of the most profound and interesting questions at the heart of jurisprudence. For example, what role do emotions ranging from disgust to compassion play in the decision-making processes of judges, lawyers, juries, and clients? What emotions belong in which legal contexts? Is there a hierarchy of emotions, and, if so, through what sources do we identify it? To what extent are emotions subject to change or tutelage? How can we evaluate the role of emotion in such disparate contexts as death sentencing, laws about same sex marriage, hate crime legislation, punitive damages or shaming penalties?Consisting of original essays by leading scholars of law, theology, political science, and philosophy,The Passions of Lawcontributes to ongoing efforts to humanize law and reveals how this previously unacknowledged aspect of decision-making exerts a much greater impact on justice and the practice of law than most tend, or like, to think.Learn more about Susan Bandes

Susan A. Bandes is professor of law at DePaul University College of Law, where she teaches federal courts, criminal procedure, and law and literature. Before she began teaching she was a civil rights attorney, first at the Illinois office of the State Appellate Defender, and then at the Chicago office of the American Civil Liberties Union.