Information on recidivism and judicial performance

[Bill Shepherd <BillS@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Our organization, the California Bureau of State Audits, is reviewing
the CPS system in California.  I realize this list focuses on research
on CAN issues, not program issues, but I think I can make a thread
here....  My question is this:

Is anyone aware of research that has focused on "judicial performance"
and its effect on re-ocurrence of maltreatment?  By judical performance,
I mean areas such as the training and/or experience levels of judical
officers, or other matters that affect the judical decision-making
process.