Future-Proofing the Judiciary

Brian Opeskin is Professor of Law and former Associate Dean (Research) at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia.

This book reinvigorates the field of socio-legal inquiry examining the relationship between law and demography. Originally conceived as 'population law' in the 1960s following a growth in population and a use of law to temper population growth, this book takes a new approach by examining how population change can affect the legal system, rather than the converse. It analyses the impact of demographic change on the judicial system, with a geographic focus on Australian courts but with global insights and it raises questions about institutional structures. Through four case studies, it examines how demographic change impacts on the judicial system and how should the judicial system adapt to embody a greater preparedness for the demographic changes that lie ahead? It makes recommendations for reform and speaks to applied demographers, socio-legal scholars, and those interested in judicial institutions.

Adopts a broad institutional lens that offers fresh insights into the way judicial systems are structured

Chapter 1 Introduction.- Chapter 2 Demography and the Judicial System.- Chapter 3 Mortality and the Future of Judicial Tenure.- Chapter 4 Population Ageing and the Future of Judicial Pensions.- Chapter 5 Population Redistribution and the Future of Lower Courts.- Chapter 6: Population Composition and the Future of Judicial Diversity.- Chapter 7 Conclusion.