ABSTRACT
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.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part 1|52 pages
Selecting Judges
part 2|53 pages
Trial Courts
chapter 5|26 pages
Under-Estimating and Over-Estimating Litigation
part 3|98 pages
Appellate Courts
chapter 7|18 pages
Decision Making in the U.S. Courts of Appeals
part 4|51 pages
Courts and Their Political Environments
chapter 11|14 pages
Goldilocks and the Supreme Court
part 5|43 pages
Implementation and Impact