Appellate judges, in their roles as decision-makers, are extensive users of information. Information to assist the judges in making their decisions, is provided in court records, attorney's briefs and oral arguments. Judges also seek information externally, through colleagues, law clerks, the computer, and both personal and centralized libraries. / This research identified, isolated, and described the factors which comprise the information seeking behavior of appellate judges. Information seeking behavior is described by studying the how, when, why, where, and what about the information users seek, including what factors affect and contribute to the manner of information seeking. / The judicial group studied was the fifty-seven judges of the five Florida District Courts of Appeal. All districts were visited. No sampling occurred. Twenty factors organized in three categories were identified to guide the description of judicial information seeking behavior. Three data gathering techniques were employed. Qualitative data was gathered through personal interviews. Quantitative data was gathered through structured observation of oral arguments and a questionnaire survey. / When taken together, the data provides evidence that there are patterns of information seeking, affected by factors within the individual judges, their organization, and their legal environment. In total, the evidence supported the following thirteen conclusions. Judges do not trust the information provided to them. Judges have particular needs with regards to organizing information which are not met by any system. The time required for information seeking is predicated upon the judge's situation regarding the disposition of the case. A judge's years on the bench suggests a pattern of information seeking at oral argument. Two critical events affect when judges need information most. Judges seek information independently. Distance from the information source approximates its relevance, and value. Of the state-funded resources, two if absent, would most affect information seeking. The quality of information seeking by the judge is guided primarily by their feeling of satisfaction. Judge's use of the computer is affected most by the nature of their job. Judges prefer information in hardcopy. Information seeking is limited to the courthouse. Finally, time affects information seeking behavior. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-07, Section: A, page: 2142. / Major Professor: F. William Summers. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1992.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76669 |
| Contributors | Hainsworth, Melody May., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 341 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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