The framing of judgement by counter

how appraisal analysis of six sentencing remarks provides an insight into judges’ sentencing practices

Authors

  • Xin Dai Southwest University of Political Science and Law

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/ijsll.40445

Keywords:

sentencing remarks, sentencing of murder, appraisal analysis, judicial discretion, audience, statutory starting point

Abstract

Studies on sentencing in England and Wales are dominated by normative studies prescribing how judges should sentence. Few examine how judges actually sentence. This article provides an insight into the empirical reality of judges’ sentencing practices by examining how judges use counter to frame their judgement of offenders and their behaviour in six sentencing remarks. The six sentencing remarks were selected to ensure that variations in sentencing decisions of the six cases were, at least to a large extent, subject to judicial discretion. It finds that the statutory point exercises a binding effect on judicial sentencing despite judges having the discretion to disregard the starting point. The finding leads to the further inference that judges might possibly perceive the Court of Appeal and the public as two important audiences for their sentencing remarks.

Author Biography

  • Xin Dai, Southwest University of Political Science and Law

    Xin Dai received her PhD in the UK from Cardiff University and is currently a lecturer at Southwest University of Political Science and Law in China. Her research interests include discourse analysis and forensic linguistics. This study was supported by the Humanities and Social Science Research Project of Chongqing Education Council (Project No.: 21SKGH015).

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Published

2021-05-21

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Dai, X. (2021). The framing of judgement by counter: how appraisal analysis of six sentencing remarks provides an insight into judges’ sentencing practices. International Journal of Speech, Language and the Law, 27(2), 209-231. https://doi.org/10.1558/ijsll.40445