How judges can show respect | Victoria Pratt

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Mandy Ng

"Judge, I want to tell you something. I want to tell you something.

「法官，我想告訴你一件事。 我想告訴你一件事。

I been watching you

我一直在注意你，

and you're not two-faced.

你並不是雙面人。

You treat everybody the same."

你平等對待每個人。

That was said to me by a transgender prostitute

以上是位變性娼妓告訴我的，

who before I had gotten on the bench

在我走上法官席之前，

had fired her public defender,

她已經開除了她的公設辯護律師，

insulted the court officer

污辱了法庭警察，

and yelled at the person sitting next to her,

並對坐在她旁邊的人大吼：

"I don't know what you're looking at. I look better than the girl you're with."

「我不知道你在看甚麼。 我看起來比你女友還好。」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

She said this to me

在她對我說那些話之前，

after I said her male name low enough

我小聲說出她的男性名字，

so that it could be picked up by the record,

音量足以讓記錄員聽得到，

but I said her female name loud enough

但我大聲說出她的女性名字，

so that she could walk down the aisle towards counselor's table with dignity.

讓她可以尊嚴地穿過走道 走到律師桌旁。

This is procedural justice, also known as procedural fairness,

這就是程序正義，即程序公平，

at its best.

發揮到極至。

You see, I am the daughter of an African-American garbageman

我爸爸是非裔美國清潔工，

who was born in Harlem

他生在哈林區，

and spent his summers in the segregated South.

夏天都待在種族隔離的南方。

Soy la hija de una peluquera dominicana.

Soy la hija de una peluquera dominicana.（以西語說她的母親）

I do that to make sure you're still paying attention.

我這樣做是要確保 你們都還在留心聽。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

I'm the daughter of a Dominican beautician

我媽媽是多明尼加美容師，

who came to this country for a better life for her unborn children.

她來到這個國家，是為了尚未 出生的孩子尋找更好的生活。

My parents taught me, you treat everyone you meet with dignity and respect,

我父母教我要用尊嚴和尊敬 對待遇到的每個人，

no matter how they look, no matter how they dress,

不論他們的長相，不論他們的衣著，

no matter how they spoke.

不論他們如何說話。

You see, the principles of fairness

公平的原則，

were taught to me at an early age,

我在很小的時候就學到了，

and unbeknownst to me, it would be the most important lesson

我那時並不知道，那會是我帶到

that I carried with me to the Newark Municipal Court bench.

紐華克地方法院 法官席上最重要的一課。

And because I was dragged off the playground

因為早在十歲時

我就被拖離遊樂場去幫家人翻譯，

at the early age of 10 to translate for family members

as they began to migrate to the United States,

那是在他們移民美國之初，

I understand how daunting it can be for a person, a novice,

因此我了解新手要在政府制度下

找到方向是多麼讓人氣餒。

to navigate any government system.

Every day across America and around the globe,

每天，在全美以及全球，

people encounter our courts,

人們會需要面對法官，

and it is a place that is foreign, intimidating

法庭是個很陌生、令人生畏的、

and often hostile towards them.

且通常對他們很有敵意的地方。

They are confused about the nature of their charges,

他們對於受到 甚麼樣的指控感到困惑，

annoyed about their encounters with the police

對於和警方的接觸著急懊惱，

and facing consequences that might impact their relationships, their finances

且要面對判決結果有可能會 影響到他們的關係、財務、

and even their liberty.

甚至他們的自由。

Let me paint a picture for you

讓我為各位說明

of what it's like for the average person who encounters our courts.

一般人面對法官時會是甚麼樣。

First, they're annoyed as they're probed going through court security.

首先，通過法庭警衛時會被搜身， 這使得他們惱火。

They finally get through court security, they walk around the building,

好不容易通過法庭警衛，

他們走在大樓裡 問不同的人相同的問題，

they ask different people the same question

and get different answers.

卻得到不同的答案。

When they finally get to where they're supposed to be,

當他們終於到了他們該去的地方，

it gets really bad when they encounter the courts.

他們面對法官的情況就非常糟。

What would you think if I told you

你們覺得如何，若我說：

that you could improve people's court experience,

可以改善人們的法庭經驗，

increase their compliance with the law

讓他們更符合法律和法庭命令的規範，

and court orders,

all the while increasing the public's trust

同時增加公眾對於

司法體制的信任，

in the justice system

只需用一個簡單想法就做到？

with a simple idea?

Well, that simple idea is procedural justice

那個簡單想法就是程序正義，

and it's a concept that says

它是一個概念，指的是

that if people perceive they are treated fairly

如果人們覺得他們被地公平對待，

and with dignity and respect,

能得到尊嚴及尊重，

they'll obey the law.

他們就會遵守法律。

Well, that's what Yale professor Tom Tyler found

那是耶魯教授湯姆泰勒的發現，

when he began to study as far back in the '70s

他早在七零年代時就開始研究

why people obey the law.

為甚麼人們會遵守法律。

He found that if people see the justice system

他發現，如果人們將司法體制視為是

as a legitimate authority to impose rules and regulations,

強制實施規則和規定的正當權威，

they would follow them.

他們就會遵從。

His research concluded

他的研究結論是，

that people would be satisfied

人們會滿意

with the judge's rulings,

法官的判決，

even when the judge ruled against them,

即使法官的判決對他們不利，

if they perceived that they were treated fairly

只要他們覺得他們有被公平對待，

and with dignity and respect.

且有得到尊嚴和尊重。

And that perception of fairness begins with what?

而那種公平的感覺要從何開始？

Begins with how judges speak to court participants.

始於法官對法庭參與者說話的方式。

Now, being a judge

擔任法官

is sometimes like having a reserve seat to a tragic reality show

有時有點像是 在悲劇實境節目中有個保留席，

that has no commercial interruptions

這節目沒有廣告打斷，

and no season finale.

也沒有當季完結篇。

It's true.

是真的。

People come before me handcuffed,

人們來到我面前時，手被銬著、

drug-sick, depressed, hungry

毒癮發作、沮喪、飢餓、

and mentally ill.

頭腦有問題。

When I saw that their need for help

當我看到，他們對於協助的需求

was greater than my fear of appearing vulnerable on the bench,

大於我害怕在法官席上 顯得脆弱的恐懼，

I realized that not only did I need to do something,

我不只了解到我得要做點甚麼，

but that in fact I could do something.

也了解到我能夠做甚麼。

The good news is is that the principles of procedural justice are easy

好消息是，程序正義的原則很簡單，

and can be implemented as quickly as tomorrow.

可以快到明天就實施。

The even better news, that it can be done for free.

更好的消息是，它可以是免費的 。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

The first principle is voice.

第一條原則是聲音。

Give people an opportunity to speak,

給人們發聲的機會，

even when you're not going to let them speak.

即使你沒有讓他們說話。

Explain it.

解釋一下。

"Sir, I'm not letting you speak right now.

「先生，我無法讓你在現在發言。

You don't have an attorney.

你沒有律師。

I don't want you to say anything that's going to hurt your case."

我不希望你說出任何 不利於你案件的話。」

For me, assigning essays to defendants

對我來說，指派被告寫篇短文

has been a tremendous way of giving them voice.

一直都是讓他們發聲好方式。

I recently gave an 18-year-old college student an essay.

我最近叫一個十八歲的 大學生寫一篇短文。

He lamented his underage drinking charge.

他為他未成年飲酒的指控感到悲痛。

As he stood before me reading his essay,

他站在我面前，讀他的短文，

his voice cracking and his hands trembling,

他的聲音粗啞，他的手在發抖，

he said that he worried that he had become an alcoholic like his mom,

他說他擔心會變成 和他媽媽一樣的酒鬼，

who had died a couple of months prior due to alcohol-related liver disease.

他的媽媽幾個月前過世， 死因是和飲酒有關的肝病。

You see, assigning a letter to my father, a letter to my son,

指派寫一封信給父親、給兒子：

"If I knew then what I know now ..."

「如果我當初知道我現在知道的…」

"If I believed one positive thing about myself,

「如果我相信自己的一個優點，

how would my life be different?"

我的人生會有何不同？」

gives the person an opportunity to be introspective,

給這個人一個機會來自省，

go on the inside,

向內看，

which is where all the answers are anyway.

畢竟所有的答案都在那裡。

But it also gives them an opportunity

但這麼做也是給他們機會

to share something with the court that goes beyond their criminal record

和法庭分享一些超出

他們的犯罪紀錄和指控之外的東西。

and their charges.

The next principle is neutrality.

下一個原則是中立。

When increasing public trust in the justice system,

若要在司法體制中增加公眾的信任，

neutrality is paramount.

中立是最重要的。

The judge cannot be perceived to be favoring one side over the other.

法官不能讓人覺得他在偏袒某一方。

The judge has to make a conscious decision not to say things like,

法官必須要做出有意識的決定， 不能說像這樣的話：

"my officer," "my prosecutor," "my defense attorney."

「我的警官」、「我的檢察官」、 「我的辯護律師」。

And this is challenging when we work in environments

法庭上的人都是被指派來的，

where you have people assigned to your courts,

同樣的人進出你的法庭， 在這樣的環境中工作，

the same people coming in and out of your courts as well.

要做到這一點很有挑戰性。

When I think of neutrality,

當我在思考中立性時，

I'm reminded of when I was a new Rutgers Law grad

我會想到當我剛從 羅格斯法學院畢業，

and freshly minted attorney,

還是個新人菜鳥律師，

and I entered an arbitration and I was greeted by two grey-haired men

我去到一場仲裁， 有兩個灰髮男子迎接我，

who were joking about the last game of golf they played together

他們在笑談著他們上次 一起打的高爾夫球賽，

and planning future social outings.

並在規劃之後的社交旅行。

I knew my client couldn't get a fair shot in that forum.

我知道我的客戶不會在 那個法庭得到公平的機會。

The next principle is understand.

下一個原則是了解。

It is critical that court participants understand the process,

非常重要的一點是， 法庭參與者要了解流程、

the consequences of the process

流程的後果、

and what's expected of them.

以及他人對他們的期望。

I like to say that legalese is the language we use to confuse.

我想說，法律措辭是 我們用來讓人困惑的語言。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

I am keenly aware that the people who appear before me,

我非常清楚知道， 出現在我面前的人，

many of them have very little education

當中有許多人沒受過多少教育，

and English is often their second language.

且英文常常是他們的第二語言。

So I speak plain English in court.

所以在法庭上我說的是白話英文。

A great example of this was when I was a young judge --

有個很好的例子， 當我是個年輕的法官時——

oh no, I mean younger judge.

應該說，比較年輕的法官——

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

When I was a younger judge, a senior judge comes to me,

當我是個比較年輕的法官時， 一位資深法官來找我，

gives me a script and says,

給我一份稿子，說：

"If you think somebody has mental health issues,

「如果你認為一個人 有心理健康問題，

ask them these questions and you can get your evaluation."

問他們這些問題， 你就可以做評估了。」

So the first time I saw someone

所以，當我第一次遇到

who had what I thought was a mental health issue,

我認為有心理健康問題的人時，

I went for my script and I started to ask questions.

我就拿出我的稿子，開始問問題。

「先生，你是否服用治療精—— 呃，治療精神——

"Um, sir, do you take psycho -- um, psychotrop --

psychotropic medication?"

治療精神異常的藥物？」

"Nope."

「沒有。」

"Uh, sir, have you treated with a psychiatrist before?"

「先生，你以前是否有 接受過精神病醫師的治療？」

"Nope."

「沒有。」

But it was obvious that the person was suffering from mental illness.

但很明顯這個人是有精神病的。

One day, in my frustration, I decided to scrap the script and ask one question.

我覺得很挫折，有一天， 我扔了我的稿子，問了一個問題。

"Ma'am, do you take medication to clear your mind?"

「女士，你是否服用藥物 來讓腦袋清醒？」

"Yeah, judge, I take Haldol for my schizophrenia,

「有的，法官，我吃氟哌啶醇 來治療精神分裂症，

Xanax for my anxiety."

吃佳靜安定來治療焦慮。」

The question works even when it doesn't.

這個問題連在沒用時都有用。

"Mr. L, do you take medication to clear your mind?"

「L 先生，你是否服用 藥物來讓腦袋清醒？」

"No, judge, I don't take no medication to clear my mind.

「不，法官，我不用 任何藥物來讓腦袋清醒。

I take medication to stop the voices in my head,

我吃藥是為了讓我腦中的聲音停止，

but my mind is fine."

但我的腦子很好。」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

You see, once people understand the question,

一旦人們能了解問題，

they can give you valuable information

他們就能給你有價值的資訊，

that allows the court to make meaningful decisions

讓法庭能對於審理的案件

about the cases that are before them.

做出有意義的決定。

The last principle is respect,

最後一項原則是尊重，

that without it none of the other principles can work.

沒有尊重，所有的原則都沒用。

Now, respect can be as simple as,

尊重可以像這麼簡單：

"Good afternoon, sir." "Good morning, ma'am."

「午安，先生。」「早安，女士。」

It's looking the person in the eye who is standing before you,

看著站在你面前的這個人的雙眼，

especially when you're sentencing them.

特別是當你在對他們宣判時。

It's when I say, "Um, how are you doing today?

那時我會說：「你今天好嗎？

And what's going on with you?"

有發生什麼事嗎？」

And not as a greeting,

那不是打招呼，

but as someone who is actually interested in the response.

而是要真的對回應感到興趣。

Respect is the difference between saying,

尊重，就是下列 兩種說法之間的差別：

"Ma'am, are you having difficulty

「女士，你是否有困難

understanding the information in the paperwork?"

無法了解文件上的資訊？」

versus, "You can read and write, can't you?"

對比「你識字也會寫字，對吧？」

when you've realized there's a literacy issue.

兩種都是當發現 有識字問題時的問法。

And the good thing about respect is that it's contagious.

尊重有個好處，就是它有感染力。

People see you being respectful to other folks

人們看見你對其他人尊重，

and they impute that respect to themselves.

他們會把那尊重轉嫁給他們自己。

You see, that's what the transgender prostitute was telling me.

那就是那位變性娼妓告訴我的。

I'm judging you just as much as you think you may be judging me.

你認為你在評斷我， 我也同樣在評斷你。

Now, I am not telling you what I think,

我不是在告訴你們我的想法，

I am telling you what I have lived,

我說的是我親身經歷過的，

using procedural justice to change the culture at my courthouse

用程序正義來改變 我的法院中的文化，

and in the courtroom.

以及法庭中的文化。

After sitting comfortably for seven months

在非常舒適地當了七個月的

as a traffic court judge,

交通法庭法官之後，

I was advised that I was being moved to the criminal court,

我被告知我要被調到刑事法庭，

Part Two, criminal courtroom.

第二部份，刑事法庭。

Now, I need you to understand,

我需要各位了解，

this was not good news.

這不是好消息。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

It was not.

不是。

Part Two was known as the worst courtroom in the city,

第二部份是全市中最糟的法庭，

some folks would even say in the state.

甚至有人會說是全州中最糟的。

It was your typical urban courtroom with revolving door justice,

它是個很典型的法庭，有著旋轉門，

you know, your regular lineup of low-level offenders --

常見的一排低階犯罪者，

you know, the low-hanging fruit,

如你所知，最簡單的，

the drug-addicted prostitute,

有毒癮的娼妓，

the mentally ill homeless person with quality-of-life tickets,

有精神疾病又無家可歸的人 因為小的不端行為被開罰單，

the high school dropout petty drug dealer and the misguided young people --

高中中綴生、低層的毒販、 誤入歧途的年輕人——

you know, those folks doing a life sentence

這些人是以一次三十天的方式

30 days at a time.

服終身監禁的刑。

Fortunately, the City of Newark decided that Newarkers deserved better,

幸運的是，紐華克市認為 紐華克值得有更好的，

and they partnered with the Center for Court Innovation

他們與法院創新中心

and the New Jersey Judiciary

以及新澤西州司法部合作，

to create Newark Community Solutions,

創造了紐華克社區解決方案，

a community court program

這是一個社區法庭計劃，

that provided alternative sanctions.

提供替代的制裁。

This means now a judge

這意味著，法官可以

can sentence a defendant to punishment with assistance.

判被告協助性質的懲罰。

So a defendant who would otherwise get a jail sentence

本來可能會被判坐牢的被告，

would now be able to get individual counseling sessions,

現在能得到各別的諮詢時段，

group counseling sessions as well as community giveback,

團體諮詢時段，還有社區回饋，

which is what we call community service.

也就是所謂的社區服務。

The only problem is that this wonderful program

唯一的問題是，這美好的計劃

was now coming to Newark and was going to be housed where?

現在要來到紐華克，要被放在哪裡？

Part Two criminal courtroom.

第二部份刑事法庭。

And the attitudes there were terrible.

而那裡的態度糟透了。

And the reason that the attitudes were terrible there

那裡態度糟透的原因是，

was because everyone who was sent there

因為每個被送到那裡的人，

understood they were being sent there as punishment.

都知道他們是被送去那裡受罰的。

The officers who were facing disciplinary actions at times,

警員總是在面對紀律行為問題，

the public defender and prosecutor

公設辯護律師和檢察官

felt like they were doing a 30-day jail sentence on their rotation,

覺得他們被罰做三十天的輪調，

the judges understood they were being hazed

法官了解他們是被捉弄，

just like a college sorority or fraternity.

就像大學兄弟會或姐妹會。

I was once told that an attorney who worked there

我曾聽說，有個在那裡工作的律師，

referred to the defendants as "the scum of the earth"

把被告稱為「地球的人渣」，

and then had to represent them.

然後還得要代表他們。

I would hear things from folks like,

我會聽到人們這樣說：

"Oh, how could you work with those people? They're so nasty.

「你怎麼能忍受和這些人 工作？他們好齷齪。

You're a judge, not a social worker."

你是法官，不是社工。」

But the reality is that as a society, we criminalize social ills,

但現實是，我們這個社會 會將社會問題當犯罪看待，

then sent people to a judge and say, "Do something."

接著把人送去給法官， 說：「做點甚麼吧。」

I decided that I was going to lead by example.

我決定我要帶頭當典範。

So my first foray into the approach came when a 60-something-year-old man

我初次嘗試這個方法， 對象是六十多歲的男子，

appeared before me handcuffed.

他在我面前時手被銬著。

His head was lowered and his body was showing the signs of drug withdrawal.

他低著頭，他的身體 顯示出戒斷毒品的徵兆。

I asked him how long he had been addicted, and he said, "30 years."

我問他，他染上毒癮多久了， 他說：「三十年。」

And I asked him, "Do you have any kids?"

我問他：「你有孩子嗎？」

And he said, "Yeah, I have a 32-year-old son."

他說：「有，我有個 三十二歲的兒子。」

And I said, "Oh, so you've never had the opportunity

我說：「喔，所以你從來沒有機會

to be a father to your son because of your addiction."

去扮演你兒子的父親， 因為你染上了毒癮。」

He began to cry.

他開始哭。

I said, "You know what, I'm going to let you go home,

我說：「你知道嗎，我要放你回家，

and you'll come back in two weeks,

兩週後你再回來，

and when you come back, we'll give you some assistance for your addiction."

當你回來時，我們會 給你戒毒方面的協助。」

Surprisingly, two weeks passed and he was sitting the courtroom.

很意外地，兩週過去了， 他坐在法庭內。

When he came up, he said, "Judge, I came back to court

他上前時，他說： 「法官，我回來法庭

because you showed me more love than I had for myself."

因為你對我展現的愛， 比我給我自己的愛還多。」

And I thought, my God, he heard love from the bench?

我心想，我的天， 他從法官席聽到愛？

I could do this all day.

我可以整天都這樣做。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Because the reality is that when the court behaves differently,

因為，現實是， 當法庭的行為不同時，

then naturally people respond differently.

很自然地，人的回應也會不同。

The court becomes a place you can go to for assistance,

法庭變成你可以去求助的地方，

like the 60-something-year-old schizophrenic homeless woman

就像一位六十多歲的 精神分裂無家女子，

who was in distress

她很煩惱，

and fighting with the voices in her head,

在對抗她腦中的聲音，

and barges into court, and screams, "Judge!

她衝進法庭，大叫：「法官！

I just came by to see how you were doing."

我只是來看看你好不好。」

I had been monitoring her case for a couple of months,

我已經監控她的案子好幾個月了，

her compliance with her medication,

她有依指示服藥，

and had just closed out her case a couple of weeks ago.

幾週前她的案子才剛結案。

On this day she needed help,

在這一天，她需要協助，

and she came to court.

而她來到了法庭。

And after four hours of coaxing by the judge,

在法官、警官、其他職員

the police officers and the staff,

哄勸四小時之後，

she is convinced to get into the ambulance

她被說服上了救護車，

that will take her to crisis unit

救護車會載她到危機單位，

so that she can get her medication.

在那裡她能拿到她的藥。

People become connected to their community

當法庭改變，人們就能

when the court changes,

和他們的社區連結，

like the 50-something-year-old man

就像有一位五十多歲的男子

who told me, "Community service was terrible, Judge.

告訴我：「社區服務很糟，法官。

I had to clean the park, and it was full of empty heroin envelopes,

我得要清理公園， 那裡都是空的海洛因封套，

and the kids had to play there."

而孩子還在那邊玩。」

As he wrung his hands, he confessed,

他一副憂慮的樣子，他自白說：

"Judge, I realized that it was my fault,

「法官，我了解到，那是我的錯，

because I used that same park to get high,

因為我曾在那個公園吸毒，

and before you sent me there to do community service,

在你把我送去做社區服務之前，

I had never gone to the park when I wasn't high,

我不曾在不吸毒時去公園，

so I never noticed the children playing there."

所以我從來沒有注意到 有孩子在那裡玩。」

Every addict in the courtroom lowered their head.

法庭上的每個癮君子都低著頭。

Who better to teach that lesson?

誰比他更適合教那一課呢？

It helps the court reset its relationship with the community,

這能協助法庭重建和社區的關係，

like with the 20-something-year-old guy

就像一位二十多歲的男子，

who gets a job interview through the court program.

他透過法庭方案得到工作面談，

He gets a job interview at an office cleaning company,

得以面試一家清潔辦公室的公司。

and he comes back to court to proudly say,

他很驕傲地回到法庭，說：

"Judge, I even worked in my suit after the interview,

「法官，在面談之後， 我甚至穿著西裝工作，

because I wanted the guy to see how bad I wanted the job."

因為我想要讓那個人看到 我有多想要那份工作。」

It's what happens when a person in authority

那樣的情況發生在

有權的人用尊嚴和尊重對待你之後。

treats you with dignity and respect,

like the 40-something-year-old guy who struts down the aisle

就像一位四十多歲的男子 趾高氣揚走過走道，

and says, "Judge, do you notice anything different?"

說：「法官，你有 注意到甚麼差異嗎？」

And when I look up,

當我抬頭看，

he's pointing at his new teeth

他指著他的新牙齒，

that he was able to get after getting a referral from the program,

因為那專案的推薦， 讓他得以換新牙齒，

but he was able to get them to replace the old teeth

他換掉了他的舊牙齒，那些牙齒

that he lost as a result of years of heroin addiction.

會壞掉就是多年吸食海洛因造成的。

When he looks in the mirror,

當他看向鏡子，

now he sees somebody who is worth saving.

他現在看到的，是個值得拯救的人。

You see, I have a dream

我有個夢想，

and that dream is that judges will use these tools

那個夢想就是，法官會用這些工具

to revolutionize the communities that they serve.

來徹底改革他們所服務的社區。

Now, these tools are not miracle cure-alls,

這些工具不是神奇的萬靈丹，

but they get us light-years closer to where we want to be,

卻讓我們大大地接近期望之地，

and where we want to be is a place that people enter our halls of justice

我們的期望是 當人們進入正義大廳時

and believe they will be treated with dignity and respect

相信他們會被以尊嚴和尊重對待，

and know that justice will be served there.

知道正義會在那裡得到伸張。

Imagine that, a simple idea.

想想那樣的世界，一個簡單的想法。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）