Associate Professor Carly Schrever1, Associate Professor Carol Hulbert2, Professor Tania Sourdin3
1UWA Law School, UWA, Perth; Australia; Human Ethos: Wellbeing for Judges and Lawyers, Melbourne, Australia, 2Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 3Newcastle Law School, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
Abstract:
There is growing evidence that judges and magistrates experience both high stress and high satisfaction in their work, however, the subjective experience of judicial stress, and the cultural and professional factors shaping that experience, remain largely unexamined. This qualitative study builds upon earlier quantitative research with the Australian judiciary, by exploring judges’ and magistrates’ perceptions of the sources and impacts of judicial stress, and their ideas for court responses. Thematic analysis of 59 in-depth interviews with judicial officers from five Australian courts revealed eight themes pertaining to the better understanding and management of occupational stress within the judiciary: (1) workload is an issue for almost everyone; (2) most judicial officers feel that the sources of stress are increasing; (3) stressors of injustice are felt most keenly; (4) there remains a cultural reluctance to discuss stress and seek support; (5) alongside stress, there is a deep sense of job satisfaction; (6) judicial officers sourcing the most enjoyment from the role are those who prioritise their own wellbeing; (7) judicial wellbeing requires judicial time; and (8) judicial wellbeing requires committed leadership. The implications of these findings for courts and individual judicial officers are discussed, with a view to the systemic enhancement of judicial wellbeing and thereby the administration of justice.