New Directions in Judicial Politics

With its often vague legal concepts and institutions that operate according to unfamiliar procedures, judicial decision-making is, in many respects, a highly enigmatic process. New Directions in Judicial Politics seeks to demystify the courts, offering readers the insights of empirical research to address questions that are of genuine interest to students.In addition to presenting a set of conclusions about the way in which courts operate, this book also models the craft of political research, illustrating how one can account for a variety of factors that might affect the courts and how they operate. The renowned scholars and teachers in this volume invite critical thinking, not only about the substance of law and courts in America, but also about the ways in which we study judicial politics.

"This book presents an extraordinary collection of research on the courts. The quality and importance of the scholarship included in the book and the effectiveness with which the authors communicate their work make New Directions in Judicial Politics a valuable resource for both students and scholars."—Lawrence Baum, Ohio State University"Filled with an impressive range of original social science research on the judicial process, this book will provide students of judicial politics with insights from the field’s leading scholars." —Susan Haire, University of Georgia"In this latest volume, Kevin McGuire has organized a terrific selection of essays that collectively paint a fascinating portrait of American courts in contemporary society. The contributing authors, who represent a perfect blend of accomplished senior scholars and the brightest up-and-coming stars, use rigorous empirics to take us significantly beyond the simple understandings of the past to the complex realities of the judicial process in American politics. Many of these works challenge the conventional wisdom and address some of the most important controversies of the day. This fascinating collection represents the very best of modern judicial politics scholarship and is a must-read for any student of American politics."—Melinda Gann Hall, Michigan State University"This is a highly accessible collection of cutting edge scholarship on judicial politics. It is likely to both challenge and intrigue students." —Banks Miller, The University of Texas at Dallas "What a terrific volume Kevin McGuire has put together. Covering the major areas of Judicial Politics, McGuire has obtained the services of the best of the middle generation of judicial scholars, i.e., those experienced enough to know what matters but young enough to still be on the cutting edge of theory and methods."—Jeffrey Segal, Stony Brook University"New Directions in Judicial Politics showcases work from leading scholars of law and courts. The breadth of substantive coverage and the careful approach to research design evident in each chapter make this volume not only a fine summary of the state of American judicial politics, but a useful teaching tool at the graduate and undergraduate levels."—Jeffrey Staton, Emory University

Kevin T. McGuire is Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.