This book investigates the historical and contemporary viability of utilizing lotteries as a legitimate mechanism for resolving complex legal and social decision-making problems. Neil Duxbury, a scholar of legal theory, examines the historical precedents of sortition and random selection to challenge the modern assumption that judicial or administrative discretion is always superior to chance. By analyzing the philosophical underpinnings of fairness and impartiality, the author argues that lotteries offer a unique, often overlooked solution to systemic bias and decision-making gridlock.

Legal scholars and political theorists frequently cite this work as a rigorous examination of an unconventional procedural tool. Experts highlight the text for its academic depth and its ability to provoke critical debate regarding the foundations of institutional justice.