Could a Judge's Empty Stomach Influence Your California DUI Case?

Maybe. A new study suggests that even judges may be influenced by hunger pangs. As reported by Discover Magazine, California DUI defendants may receive more favorable verdicts when the judge is ruling on a full belly.

A 10-month Israeli study of eight judges considering more than 1,100 applications for parole found that the judges were more likely to grant parole at the start of the day as well as after breaks for a morning snack and lunch.

Specifically, the study found that the likelihood of a prisoner winning parole started off at 65 percent, then plummeted over a few hours, and returned to 65 percent after the breaks, before plummeting again.

However, this does not mean that the rulings were not also founded in law. Prisoners deemed likely to commit another crime, or who weren't part of a rehabilitation program, were still less likely to win parole.

With respect to the results, Nita Farahany, a professor of law at Vanderbilt University, says, "To me, this study underscores that decision-making is complex and does not occur in a theoretical or formalistic vacuum."

As she also acknowledged, "[I]mprovements in the justice system may likewise require that society acknowledge the effects of biological contributions to legal decision-making."

If you or someone you know has been arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence in California, it is important to contact an experienced California DUI attorney.