You know, in the old days judges referred to the laws.
Now, of course, when everything judicial is about freewheeling "interpretation," it's critical for all parties to try and get judges that will "interpret" things the way the parties want them to.
As I pointed out elsewhere, how far do you take this "empathy" stuff? Should a science case demand a judge who's a scientist? A child custody case demand a judge who's a parent? Or not one?