Judicial Performance and Trust in Legal Systems: Findings from a Decade of Surveys in over 20 European Countries

Objective Determining the existence of a relationship between judicial performance and citizens' trust in the legal system. Method Cross-classified multilevel models, using data from more than 20 European countries, 80 surveys, and 100,000 respondents, over a decade. Results The longer the time that lower courts take, on average, to dispose of pending cases, the lower is the public's trust in their legal system. Conclusion Judicial performance, operationalized as the ability of courts to avoid delays in the delivery of justice, is a significant correlate of citizens' evaluations of their country's legal system.