Juries Convict Attractive People Less Often, Cornell Study Finds

Juries Convict Attractive People Less Often, Cornell Study Finds
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In the one place in society where brute facts and figures are supposed to trump all else, appearance may matter more than we think.

According to a recent study by Justin J. Gunnell '05 law '08 and Prof. Stephen J. Ceci, human ecology and the Helen L. Carr Professor of Developmental Psychology, more attractive defendants in court are less likely to be found guilty than less attractive ones. If there are damages, then more attractive people tend to receive higher rewards and in criminal cases, better-looking defendants receive lower sentences.

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