Panel composition influences outcomes, so circuits randomize judge assignment

Evidence

Because judges bring different perspectives to the law, the decision that an appeals court renders may depend on the composition of the panel that hears the case. Judges are rotated so that the same ones do not sit together constantly. Extraordinary efforts are made to ensure randomness in the assignment of cases to panels. For example, the Eleventh Circuit uses a computer-generated random matrix to set the composition of every panel a year in advance. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 366

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Judges’ values and discretion mean who sits matters for outcomes — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 499; Heterogeneous multi-judge panels could offset individual judicial bias; Random case assignment to judges can be statistically verified in practice (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Heterogeneous multi-judge panels could offset individual judicial bias #expands (0.95)
• Random case assignment to judges can be statistically verified in practice #corroborates (0.80)