In Societies, Nova Fellow Alan C. Logan, Scholar Susan Prescott, and Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena asset that judicial well-being is fundamental to justice systems.
This paper examines growing international evidence that judicial work can carry substantial psychological and physical burdens, arising from heavy workloads, exposure to traumatic material, professional isolation, public scrutiny, and sustained high-stakes decision-making. These pressures may affect not only judges’ health, but also emotional regulation, cognitive performance, consistency, and susceptibility to bias. The authors contend that judicial well-being is therefore not simply a private or occupational health issue. It is fundamental to the fairness, integrity, and legitimacy of justice systems—and to the public trust on which they depend. The paper calls for a shift away from cultures of stoicism and stigma toward confidential support, evidence-based training, appropriate rest and recovery, healthier institutional environments, and stronger research into what genuinely improves judicial well-being and performance.
