Ideology in the Language of Judges: How Judges Practice Law, Politics, and Courtroom Control

Studying the language of judges in courtrooms, the author of this text demonstrates that they are not impartial arbiters of due process, but are influenced by their own political-ideological stance and interpretation of the law. The effect on their interaction with defendants is shown.
Philips looks at the languages of judges in the courtroom to show that, while judges see themselves as impartial agents of the constitutional right to due process, there is actually much diversity in the way that judges interract with defendants due to their interpretations of the law, their attitudes toward courtroom control, and their own political-ideological stances regarding due process. She uses courtroom transcripts, interviews, and the written law itself to
show how ideological diversity is organized in legal discourse.