Abstract:  Facial features including facial attractiveness, trustworthiness, maturity, racial clues, tattoos, facial expressions and other facial feature dimensions serve as important sources in social activities. Empirical research evidence and case studies demonstrate that facial features influence judicial-making in the process of judicial decision making such as in cases of judgment of civil compensation award or criminal punishment. The effect of facial features on judicial decision is modulated by many factors, such as criminal types, severity of the crime, professional legal training, individual beliefs, cognitive styles, attitudes and motivation of the decision makers. The effect of facial features on judicial decision making has been also found to relate with automatic information processing, stereotype activation, trait inference and the emotional arousal. Future studies should focus on the following topics: (1) external validity of the research; (2) cultural differences of the facial feature effect on judicial decision-making; (3) interactive effects of different facial features; (4) correction and adjustment of the facial features effect on judicial decision making in judicial practice.

Key words:  judicial decision making, facial attractiveness, facial trustworthiness, facial maturity, facial expression, criminal stereotypes