‘Judges should be superhuman’: The invisible burden behind the bench
The Hidden Weight Carried by Those Who Deliver Justice
Qinilo.com – When emergencies arise, whether through political upheaval, natural catastrophes, or armed conflict, courts remain among the rare institutions tasked with maintaining continuity. Their mission is to uphold the rule of law while ensuring that legal frameworks continue to function for society.
Magistrates persist in hearing criminal matters, defending constitutional guarantees, and holding offenders accountable—all while navigating the same everyday stresses faced by the citizens they serve. Despite this critical role, the mental and emotional health of judicial officers has historically received minimal recognition.
A Deeper Understanding of Judicial Health
During a comprehensive discussion with UN News, Hon. Rangajeeva Wimalasena, who serves on both the National and Supreme Courts of Papua New Guinea, offered insight into this overlooked dimension.
“The judge seems to float along the bench with effortless serenity, like a swan on the mirrored surface of the lake,” he observed.
“But beneath that mirrored surface of the lake, there’s a very big struggle.”
His comments came ahead of an international observance dedicated to recognizing the strength and significance of judicial service. This annual event builds upon the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being, which was established in 2024 through the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The declaration urges governments and court systems globally to acknowledge the vital role of judicial health.
According to Judge Wimalasena, public understanding of judicial well-being remains limited:
“When you say judicial well-being, a lot of people think it’s about individual judges’ well-being… making them live in a very comfortable and happy lifestyle,” he explained. “But what is meant by judicial well-being is far deeper and broader.”
The Superhuman Expectation
For many generations, magistrates have been expected to absorb the emotional toll of their profession without complaint.
“Judicial stress was considered a taboo because society always expected…judges should be superhuman,” the judge noted.
This cultural assumption ignores the fact that judicial officers regularly review disturbing evidence, manage overwhelming workloads, and render rulings that fundamentally alter lives. When these burdens remain unaddressed, the impact extends beyond individual magistrates.
“If the judges don’t maintain judicial well-being, it can actually affect the quality of justice,” he warned.
Context-Specific Challenges
These pressures intensify in nations experiencing political violence, environmental crises, or ongoing conflict. The Nauru Declaration specifically highlights that judicial well-being programs must account for local conditions.
“Some countries have conflict situations and political violence, wars, even natural disasters,” Judge Wimalasena clarified. “Judges face very unique context-specific challenges in those circumstances.”
Providing adequate support in these environments helps safeguard the rule of law during periods of maximum strain.
Sleep and Modern Pressures
Emerging research is now measuring how judicial duties impact magistrates’ health. Judge Wimalasena referenced a 2026 Canadian Judicial Council investigation revealing significant rates of poor sleep quality among judges, with inadequate rest connected to elevated cognitive stress.
“Sleep is not a private luxury as far as judges are concerned,” he stated. “It supports concentration, memory, emotional regulation, and decision making.”
Simply put, the standard of justice rendered depends partly on how well judges rest.
Traditional demands are now being amplified by contemporary issues. A pilot study organized by the Global Judicial Well-being Research Hub uncovered compulsive social media consumption and digital harassment as growing concerns for judicial officers. Numerous participants indicated their institutions lacked defined protocols for assisting magistrates confronting online hostility.
“Social media is becoming an emerging challenge,” he remarked, pointing out that digital abuse and excessive social media engagement were disrupting judges’ “sleep, concentration, and time management.”
Investing in Justice
Ultimately, the focus should remain on the communities courts serve. Judicial bodies decide whether victims obtain justice, families settle disagreements equitably, constitutional protections endure, and authorities answer for their actions. These rulings influence economic stability, reinforce legal frameworks, and shape public confidence in governmental institutions.
“Judicial work affects every element in our societies,” Judge Wimalasena concluded.
Protecting those who administer justice represents an investment in the foundation of society itself.