A best practice model for the design, implementation and evaluation of social context training for judicial officers

Abstract

Continual professional development for judicial officers through judicial education programmes has become a common feature in many countries throughout the world. The growing need for these kinds of programmes, specifically in transitioning democracies, is relatively well-documented. One core component of this kind of training deals with social context-related issues. Research has shown that even in societies where equality is enshrined in the constitution or mandated through legislation, unequal treatment before the law persists, hence the motivation for social context training for members of the judiciary. There is limited information in the public domain about these kinds of judicial training programmes and their effectiveness or efficiencies. This article presents a best practice model for designing, implementing and evaluating social context training for judicial officers. The aim is to provide a useful framework for programme designers for the development of future programmes of this kind.