Strength Versus Sensitivity: The Impact of Attorney Gender on Juror Perceptions and Trial Outcomes in a Rape Case

Mary M. Levi; Kellie R. Lynch; Jonathan M. Golding

doi:10.1177/10778012211026002

Strength Versus Sensitivity: The Impact of Attorney Gender on Juror Perceptions and Trial Outcomes in a Rape Case

Mary M. Levi, Kellie R. Lynch, Jonathan M. Golding

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We examined the impact of attorney gender on perceptions of a criminal rape trial. Community members (N = 208) read a trial summary describing a rape scenario in which the gender of the prosecuting and defense attorney were manipulated. The results revealed indirect effects of prosecuting and defense attorney gender on verdict through perceptions of characteristics related to attorney competency. Qualitative analyses further showed that the terms “strength” and “powerful” were central to juror perceptions of male attorneys, whereas the terms “sensitive” and “sympathy” were central when the attorneys were female.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2010-2032
Number of pages	23
Journal	Violence Against Women
Volume	28
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012211026002
State	Published - Jul 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.

Keywords

attorney gender
jury decision-making
rape
sexual assault

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Gender Studies
Sociology and Political Science
Law

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1177/10778012211026002

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AB - We examined the impact of attorney gender on perceptions of a criminal rape trial. Community members (N = 208) read a trial summary describing a rape scenario in which the gender of the prosecuting and defense attorney were manipulated. The results revealed indirect effects of prosecuting and defense attorney gender on verdict through perceptions of characteristics related to attorney competency. Qualitative analyses further showed that the terms “strength” and “powerful” were central to juror perceptions of male attorneys, whereas the terms “sensitive” and “sympathy” were central when the attorneys were female.

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Strength Versus Sensitivity: The Impact of Attorney Gender on Juror Perceptions and Trial Outcomes in a Rape Case

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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