In a pre-registered 2 × 2 × 2 factorial between-subject randomized lab experiment with 61 federal judges, we test if the law influences judicial decisions, if it does so more under a rule than under a standard, and how its influence compares to that of legally irrelevant sympathies. Participating judges received realistic materials and a relatively long period of time (50 min) to decide an auto accident case. We find at best weak evidence that the law matters or that rules constrain more than standards, and no evidence of a sympathy effect. (JEL K00, K13, K40, K41)

中文翻译：

---

法律很重要——比我们想象的要少

在一项由 61 名联邦法官参与的预先注册的 2 × 2 × 2 因子间随机实验室实验中，我们测试了法律是否会影响司法判决，它在规则下的影响是否大于在标准下的影响，以及它的影响与与法律无关的同情。参与的法官收到了真实的材料和相对较长的时间（50分钟）来决定一起车祸案件。我们最多只能找到微弱的证据表明法律很重要，或者规则的限制超过了标准，也没有证据表明存在同情效应。(JEL K00, K13, K40, K41)