December 3rd – It’s not the same, but does it need to be? A sociological exploration of the transition from justice rituals to virtual justice rituals
The growing use of video links in courtrooms worldwide has sparked concerns about the potential erosion of trial legitimacy and fairness due to diminished physical interactions. However, these concerns may be rooted in an idealization of physical presence rather than evidence-based analysis which, in turn, shapes how we shape and understand virtual trials.
In Professor Flower’s forthcoming ERC-funded research project “VIRTUTRIALS”, she will explore this shift from physical justice rituals to virtual settings. In this lecture, our guest discussed the social practices, performances, and symbolic exchanges that underpin perceptions of fairness, authority, and legitimacy in trials, how these rituals may be impacted by virtual formats, and how this bears upon the symbolic power traditionally associated with physical courtroom interactions. In an era of increasing digitization, VIRTUTRIALS will offer critical insights into the transformation of courtroom rituals, contributing to the understanding of how justice can thrive in virtual environments.
