Dear Brother and Sister Judges, Esteemed Young Advocates, and Fellow Legal Minds across India,
As 2025 draws to a close, a simple book has quietly reshaped my own approach to our demanding profession. Dr. Carol S. Dweck's Mindset: The New Psychology of Success draws a clear line between two ways of seeing ourselves: the fixed mindset, which treats abilities as unchangeable traits, and the growth mindset, which views them as muscles strengthened through effort, challenge, and learning. In the high-stakes world of law where cases turn on nuances, setbacks sting deeply, and justice demands constant evolution, this distinction feels urgent, not abstract.
Young advocates often step into courtrooms brimming with talent but shadowed by doubt. A fixed mindset misleads them giving an impression that innate brilliance alone secures a place at the bar; one lost argument or overlooked precedent becomes proof of inadequacy, breeding avoidance of tough briefs or novel arguments. Yet Dweck shows us another path which is the growth mindset thrives on stretching beyond comfort. It turns a dismissed appeal into a lesson in sharper advocacy, a complex contract dispute into fuel for deeper study. Everyone regardless of starting point has a seat in this profession if they embrace relentless, smart work. Picture the junior counsel who pores over judgments not just to win, but to grow; their persistence builds resilience, turning “not yet” into mastery.
For us judges, the stakes cut even deeper. A fixed mindset risks rigidity clinging to precedent without questioning its fit, dismissing evolving societal needs as beyond our “natural” grasp, or viewing errors as fatal flaws rather than invitations to refine. This can quietly erode justice when unyielding views on evidence or equity overlook fresh insights from technology, lived experiences, or interdisciplinary wisdom. Dweck warns that fixed thinking judges worth by outcome alone: “If you fail or you're not the best, it's all been wasted.” But growth asks, “Did we learn? Did we stretch?” In chambers or on the bench, it means welcoming critique, experimenting with alternative interpretations, and modeling evolution for those we guide.
Our Courts are sacred spaces for human transformation, not monuments to static genius. Fixed mindsets harm not just individuals but the pursuit of justice itself stifling innovation in arbitration, constitutional interpretation, or public interest litigation. Growth mindsets, by contrast, foster teams where advocates and judges collaborate as learners, Seniors mentor without ego, juniors challenge boldly, and all persist through the profession's inevitable losses. Dweck's words echo: “Becoming is better than being.” This New Year, let's value the process.
I share this not as settled wisdom, but as a fellow traveler committing to the same shift. Like many, I have felt the pull of fixed thinking in tough rulings or stalled insights. Moving forward, I will make all attempts to approach each case with curiosity, seeking feedback, embracing challenges, and evolving openly. If this resonates, join in small steps—read widely, reflect on failures, pursue discomfort. Together, we build a bar and bench not of fixed stars, but of rising flames.
Wishing you a 2026 rich in growth, justice, and shared progress.
Author is Judge, High court of Madras.
Views Are Personal.