and sentencing to assessing dangerousness, stigmatization in and out of the courtroom, and how the genetic origin of the disorder might affect judicial decision-making. This larger project consisted of a case-study survey and short telephone interviews. Recruitment of judges for interview participation occurred if they volunteered permission in their survey response to be contacted for an interview.

The survey used in the larger project was a structured case-study on an offender diagnosed with an hfASD and asked judges to indicate how they would sentence the offender, what aspects of the disorder and testimony concerning the disorder affected their decisions, and some more general thoughts on hfASDs in the criminal justice system. Of the 1,500 California Superior Court Judges eligible, a random sample of 500 was sent surveys by mail.identifications discussed favorable fictional portrayals of those diagnosed with hfASDs and the media as an educational tool on the disorder for the general public. Ultimately, although judges did voice concerns about the media's negative bias, judges seemed to fully recognize it and expressed support and enthusiasm surrounding positive and educational media representations of the disorder. The use of positive, educational media has the potential to incite public discussion and counteract negative stereotypes and preconceptions towards the mentally disordered.

Almost all judges interviewed who had experienced media coverage surrounding hfASDs and criminal offending identified it as very negative. Judges perceived this coverage as misleading, creating false associations between violent behavior and having the disorder, as well as between being mentally unwell or "sick" and being diagnosed with an hfASD. These