Juridification and Accountability in the Welfare Sector

Abstract

Juridification, the transfer of power to courts and court-like actors, and the expansion of legal rules into new areas are central features of contemporary welfare governance. This development raises questions about how juridification processes influence the discretion of welfare professionals and, by extension, their ability to provide high-quality welfare services. Moreover, how do courts use their new powers? Do they defer to the expertise of the professions or not? This panel invites papers that examine juridification (for instance, judicial review, individual rights, and detailed rules) as a means to ensure accountability in various welfare sectors from the perspectives of different actors, including courts, professions, bureaucrats, and citizens.

Title	Details
The Influence of the European Court of Human Rights on Norwegian Street-Level Bureaucrats’ Discretion	View Paper Details
Self-Perception and Views on Social Politics and Law Making of Judges in Germany’s Social Courts	View Paper Details
Do Laws Themselves Explain the Extent of Public Authorities’ Legal Compliance?	View Paper Details
Juridification as a Threat to Human Rights Practice: Child Protection and the Democratic Governance of Discretion	View Paper Details