RALEIGH — Campbell Law School Assistant Professor Chris Cox has recently published an article in the Southern Illinois University Law Journal.
The article, titled “Empirically Testing the ‘Unbiased Fact Finder[s],’” explores criminal justice decision-making within the context of the military justice system.
“This scholarly investigation examines the decision-making processes in sexual assault cases, juxtaposing the charging decisions of lay individuals with the factual sufficiency reviews conducted by appellate judges,” according to the National Institute of Military Justice (NIMJ), which spotlighted the article on LinkedIn. “The study’s comprehensive analysis of 254 cases provides a unique perspective on criminal justice decision-making within the context of the military justice system—a singular jurisdiction that confers prosecutorial discretion upon lay individuals and permits extensive factual sufficiency reviews by appellate courts, akin to quasi-jury fact-finding articulated in written opinions.
“This research contributes empirical evidence to the paradigm shift towards legal realism in understanding judicial decision-making. It accentuates the necessity for continuous education, self-reflection, and systemic reforms to ensure equitable outcomes in sexual assault adjudication. While the military justice system presents a unique context, the fundamental task of applying law to facts remains quintessential to the legal profession. Consequently, the results offer valuable insights into the complex interplay of factors influencing legal decisions, underscoring the importance of adopting a more nuanced approach to judicial roles and decision-making processes in contemporary jurisprudence.”
Cox thanked the NIMJ for spotlighting his latest research and Ashley Dorsey and her team at the SIU Law Journal for the phenomenal job in getting it ready for publication.
“My hope is that this publication will help inform the policy debates surrounding criminal justice reforms,” he wrote on LinkedIn.
The Southern Illinois University Law Journal aims to produce scholarly publications of the highest quality attainable. The Journal is a student-run organization with a board of editors and staff members. The student editors and staff members select articles written by experts on various legal topics and then carry the articles through an editorial process to reach the end goal of publication.
Cox is the director of the law school’s Trial Advocacy Program. His research interests focus on the criminal justice system, assessing procedure and decision-making of court actors.
Prior to joining Campbell Law, Cox served in the U.S. Navy for more than 20 years, during which time he deployed to Afghanistan and at sea in the Pacific area of operations numerous times. He last served as a trial judge, presiding over criminal cases. Cox earned his J.D. from Northern Illinois University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois system.
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Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion, and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation’s top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation’s best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts nearly 5,000 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2024, Campbell Law celebrated 45 years of graduating legal leaders and 15 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina’s Capital City.