Deriving Interest Group Ideology from Participation on Amicus Curiae Briefs

Why Amicus Curiae Cosigners Come and Go: A Dynamic Model of Interest Group Networks

Interest groups use coalition strategies to exert influence, yet, like other political actors, they also withdraw from partnerships in the pursuit of other policy goals. We explore how interest group coalition strategies have changed over time and which factors determine whether interest groups relationships form and dissolve. Utilizing dynamic networks of a panel of interest groups derived fro...

Constitutional Precedent of Amicus Briefs

We investigate shared language between U.S. Supreme Court majority opinions and interest groups’ corresponding amicus briefs. Specifically, we evaluate whether language that originated in an amicus brief acquired legal precedent status by being cited in the Court’s opinion. Using plagiarism detection software, automated querying of a large legal database, and manual analysis, we establish seven...

Using science to influence the Supreme Court on the right to refuse treatment: amicus curiae briefs in Washington v. Harper.

The Supreme Court's use of empirical behavioral science data has grown dramatically in the 40 years since Brown v. Board of Education. Most of these data are submitted in amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs submitted by parties with an interest in the outcome of the significant mental health law cases coming before the court. The increasing use of such briefs raises important questions. ...

Amicus Curiae in International Investment Arbitration: The Implications of an Increase in Third-Party Participation

Quality Over Quantity: Amici Influence and Judicial Decision Making

Interest groups often make their preferences known on cases before the U.S. Supreme Court via amicus curiae briefs. In evaluating the case and related arguments, we posit that judges take into account more than just the number of supporters for the liberal and conservative positions. Specifically, judges’ decisions may also reflect the relative power of the groups. We use network position to me...