Publication Date

Spring 2009

Journal

Law & Literature

Abstract

The article explores John Wigmore's foundational role in the Law and Literature movement through his lists of legal novels, which aimed to democratize legal education by emphasizing the importance of narrative fiction in understanding human realities and legal professionalism. Wigmore believed that reading fiction should be a lifelong professional duty for lawyers and judges, as it fosters empathy, ethical understanding, and improved interpretive skills. The article traces the evolution of this movement, highlighting its expansion and the debates it has sparked over the interpretation of legal and literary texts.

Volume

21

Issue

1

First Page

129

Last Page

145

Publisher

Routledge

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1525/lal.2009.21.1.129

Disciplines

Criminal Law | Judges | Law

Comments

20th Anniversary Issue

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