
Scripted Justice: How Language Shapes Guilt and Innocence in the Courtroom
Courtrooms are often imagined as places where facts determine the truth and justice emerges through objective reasoning. However, psychological research suggests that legal outcomes are not shaped by evidence alone. The language used by prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and the media can strongly influence how jurors interpret events, evaluate credibility, and assign guilt. In many cases, courtroom narratives are constructed through linguistic framing rather than neutral descriptions of reality. Language






