Mgr. RYBANSKA Tatiana - PhDr. candidate, Alexander Dubček University of Trenčín, Department of Political Science (Trenčín, The Slovac Republic).

Email: tatiana.rybanska@zoznam.sk

Keywords: lay judge, people's judge, cognitive biases, decision making, judiciary, Judicial Acad emy, educa tion, empirical experience

The topic reflects the political science significance of the exercise of judicial power as an independent pillar of democracy. The dec i sion making of lay judges, who lack legal education, may be influenced by various cognitive biases, posing a risk to fair trial standards, the legitimacy of decisions, and public trust in the judiciary. This article examines the impact of cognitive biases on the decision making of lay judges in the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic, A ustria, an d Sweden. Based on a comparative analysis of legislative frameworks, international approaches to the education of lay judges, and the author's personal experience a s a lay judge in a criminal panel, it highlights the risks of lay adjudication wit hout syste matic training. The aim is to propose a training model in cooperation with the Judicial Academy of the Slovak Republic that would contribute to improving the quali t y of decision making and enhancing public trust in the judiciary. Particular atten tion is pa id to the psychological aspects of decision making, especially cognitive biases that may affect the impartiality and fairness of judicial decisions.