Handling Diversity on the Ground in Italian Asylum Appeals

Abstract

In administrative, civil, and criminal courts, Italian judges are increasingly called upon to rule on crucial aspects of managing migration. One of the critical areas is undoubtedly asylum policies regarding access to asylum and the procedure for determining international protection. This article explores the daily work of international protection judges, who face challenges in accomplishing their tasks due to linguistic, socio-cultural, and geographical diversity. It links individual and organisational levels, showing how their work context shapes judges' practices. The study highlights the consequences of these practices in reinforcing social inequalities. Data was collected by combining semi-structured interviews with judges and shadowing in five court sections. The article reflects on the shadowing technique’s potential for analyzing judicial sector dynamics, especially when combined with semi-structured interviews.