Where One Sits Affects Where Others Stand: Bias, the Bar, and Nominees to Federal District Courts

Publication Title

Judicature

Authors

Susan Navarro Smelcer, Georgia State University College of LawFollow
Amy Steigerwalt, Georgia State UniversityFollow
Richard L. Vining Jr., University of GeorgiaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2014

Abstract

The American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary has evaluated potential federal judges since the 1950s. Here, we compare nominations to the circuit and district courts and find clear differences in how these two groups of nominees are evaluated the ABA. We propose these differences are a function of the lesser policymaking role and greater institutional constraints of district court judges, and the differences between trial and appellate court judges lead the ABA to favor different types of qualifications when evaluating nominees to these two types of courts.

Comments

External Links

Westlaw

HeinOnline

Recommended Citation

Susan N. Smelcer et al., Where One Sits Affects Where Others Stand: Bias, the Bar, and Nominees to Federal District Courts, 98 Judicature 35 (2014).

Institutional Repository Citation

Susan N. Smelcer, Amy Steigerwalt & Richard L. Vining Jr., Where One Sits Affects Where Others Stand: Bias, the Bar, and Nominees to Federal District Courts, Faculty Publications By Year 3265 (2014)
https://readingroom.law.gsu.edu/faculty_pub/3265

Volume

98

First Page

35

Last Page

45