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Partisanship in State Supreme Courts: The Empirical Relationship between Party Campaign Contributions and Judicial Decision Making

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  • Michael S. Kang
  • Joanna M. Shepherd

Abstract

In this article, we explore the relationship between political parties' campaign contributions and partisan voting among state supreme court judges who won partisan elections. Using three different measures of partisan voting, we find that contributions from political parties are associated with partisanship in judicial decision making. Campaign contributions from political parties are related to judicial voting in the party-preferred ideological direction and to cohesive voting among judges from the same political party. We find that the relationship between party contributions and partisan voting is stronger for Republican judges than for Democratic judges.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael S. Kang & Joanna M. Shepherd, 2015. "Partisanship in State Supreme Courts: The Empirical Relationship between Party Campaign Contributions and Judicial Decision Making," The Journal of Legal Studies, University of Chicago Press, vol. 44(S1), pages 161-185.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlstud:doi:10.1086/682690
    DOI: 10.1086/682690
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    3. Melinda Gann Hall & Chris W. Bonneau, 2006. "Does Quality Matter? Challengers in State Supreme Court Elections," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 50(1), pages 20-33, January.
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