In the last fifty years, courts have emerged as key participants in the public policymaking process, exercising discretion to make decisions which have far-reaching consequences in terms of the distribution of benefits and burdens within society.

This programme provides a critical assessment of the role of courts in the public policymaking process, assessing their level of influence and scrutinizing the efficacy and legitimacy of their involvement.

The programme considers a range of issues within this context, including

• the relationship between courts, legislatures, and executives
• how judicial policymaking fits within a democratic society
• what training and qualifications judges have for policy decisions
• how suitable the judicial forum is for handling policy choices.