Courts

Lynette J. Chua; David M. Engel; Sida Liu

doi:10.1017/9781108864824.008

7 - Courts

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 March 2023

Lynette J. Chua ,

David M. Engel and

Sida Liu

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Lynette J. Chua: Affiliation:
National University of Singapore
David M. Engel: Affiliation:
State University of New York, Buffalo
Sida Liu: Affiliation:
The University of Hong Kong

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Summary

This chapter examines courts in Asia as cultural symbols, social organizations, and political battlegrounds. As cultural symbols, courts are often embedded in religions, colonial legacies, and local norms. These cultural symbols are found in both informal tribunals and more institutionalized religious and secular courts. As social organizations, courts are intertwined with bureaucratic hierarchies, political influences, and the career trajectories of judges. This is particularly salient in civil law jurisdictions across Asia. As political battlegrounds, courts provide a space for the judicialization of politics as well as a soil for judicial corruption. The readings also examine the complexity of judicial decision-making in different national contexts. In addition, the readings highlight the nature and impact of judicial reforms, which take place amid broader political and social changes in both democratic and authoritarian contexts and can lead to tensions as well as encourage new alliances.

Keywords

courts judiciary judges

Type: Chapter
Information: The Asian Law and Society Reader , pp. 273 - 308

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108864824.008 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2023

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