Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Law and Gender
"Mr. Bad Example": Why Lawyers Need To Embrace Therapeutic Jurisprudence To Root Out Sanism In The Representation Of Persons With Mental Disabilities, Michael L. Perlin
"Mr. Bad Example": Why Lawyers Need To Embrace Therapeutic Jurisprudence To Root Out Sanism In The Representation Of Persons With Mental Disabilities, Michael L. Perlin
Articles & Chapters
Litigants with mental disabilities are taken less seriously by their own lawyers, trivialized by opposing counsel, and disparaged by judges. This is largely a result of “sanism,” an irrational prejudice of the same quality and character of other irrational prejudices such as racism, sexism or homophobia. Recognizing and combatting sanism creates extra burdens on lawyers who do seek to provide effective counsel for this population. Such lawyers need special tools to combat sanism, and we believe that lawyering skills rooted in therapeutic jurisprudence provide the best foundation through which to create a positive psychology of persuasion in this representation. Our …