Virtual Justice Rituals : A Sociological Examination of the Transition from Physical Presence to Virtual Participation
Flower, Lisa LU
(2025)
In European Journal of Crime, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice
33(1).
- Abstract
- This paper explores the sociological impact of transitioning justice rituals in physical criminal courtrooms to virtual justice rituals. Traditionally, criminal courtroom rituals – often associated with formal architecture, dress codes, and ceremonial symbols but also including fuzzier aspects such as sensorial experiences and atmospheres – are understood as reinforcing authority, fairness, and legitimacy. In virtual settings, however, these significant cues may become diluted or lost, affecting participants’ perceptions of trial solemnity and legitimacy. By analyzing the dynamics of virtual justice rituals this paper sheds light on how digital platforms reshape foundational trial elements and will discuss the need to adapt judicial... (More)
- This paper explores the sociological impact of transitioning justice rituals in physical criminal courtrooms to virtual justice rituals. Traditionally, criminal courtroom rituals – often associated with formal architecture, dress codes, and ceremonial symbols but also including fuzzier aspects such as sensorial experiences and atmospheres – are understood as reinforcing authority, fairness, and legitimacy. In virtual settings, however, these significant cues may become diluted or lost, affecting participants’ perceptions of trial solemnity and legitimacy. By analyzing the dynamics of virtual justice rituals this paper sheds light on how digital platforms reshape foundational trial elements and will discuss the need to adapt judicial practices, ensuring that the symbolic and procedural integrity of criminal trials is preserved, thus maintaining public trust in remote justice. This research contributes to broader discussions on how digitalization influences authority, legitimacy, and transparency in legal contexts. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/553d0be5-8447-4664-94a1-fc6aaf2b6fc6
- author
- Flower, Lisa
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-06-27
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- in
- European Journal of Crime, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice
- volume
- 33
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 20 pages
- publisher
- Martinus Nijhoff Publishers
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105010237969
- ISSN
- 0928-9569
- DOI
- 10.1163/15718174-bja10065
- project
- The elusive role of physicality in virtual trials: Towards a new understanding of legal participation
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 553d0be5-8447-4664-94a1-fc6aaf2b6fc6
- date added to LUP
- 2025-08-14 11:14:34
- date last changed
- 2025-08-15 04:03:26
@article{553d0be5-8447-4664-94a1-fc6aaf2b6fc6,
abstract = {{This paper explores the sociological impact of transitioning justice rituals in physical criminal courtrooms to virtual justice rituals. Traditionally, criminal courtroom rituals – often associated with formal architecture, dress codes, and ceremonial symbols but also including fuzzier aspects such as sensorial experiences and atmospheres – are understood as reinforcing authority, fairness, and legitimacy. In virtual settings, however, these significant cues may become diluted or lost, affecting participants’ perceptions of trial solemnity and legitimacy. By analyzing the dynamics of virtual justice rituals this paper sheds light on how digital platforms reshape foundational trial elements and will discuss the need to adapt judicial practices, ensuring that the symbolic and procedural integrity of criminal trials is preserved, thus maintaining public trust in remote justice. This research contributes to broader discussions on how digitalization influences authority, legitimacy, and transparency in legal contexts.}},
author = {{Flower, Lisa}},
issn = {{0928-9569}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{06}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{Martinus Nijhoff Publishers}},
series = {{European Journal of Crime, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice}},
title = {{Virtual Justice Rituals : A Sociological Examination of the Transition from Physical Presence to Virtual Participation}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15718174-bja10065}},
doi = {{10.1163/15718174-bja10065}},
volume = {{33}},
year = {{2025}},
}