Jack Deschler (APRW)

Speaker

Jack Deschler presents his project on judicial appointments.

Abstract

The Blue Slip privilege, when active, allows home-state senators a de facto veto over the appointment of judges to the Federal Courts of Appeals and District Courts. Previous research has focused on the impact that coparty senators can have on the ideology of judicial appointments, but largely ignored the effect of opposition Senators. Using data from the Database on Ideology, Money in Politics, and Elections (DIME), I demonstrate that Presidents are constrained in their appointment of judges by opposition party home-state senators, meaning that, for example, Democratic Presidents appoint more conservative judges in states with Republican senators. I further argue that these senators are acting as ideologues, rather than simple partisans, and investigate whether home-state senators can “trade” ideological extremity for other attributes, such as older or more diverse appointments.
 

The American Politics Research Workshop (Gov 3004) meets all academic year, Tuesdays, 12:00 - 2:00 PM, in CGIS K354. This workshop presents an opportunity for graduate students and Harvard faculty to present and receive feedback on their current research. The workshop highlights key theoretical and empirical findings from Harvard affiliates on topics related to American politics.

All interested Harvard affiliates are invited to attend.