Abstract
Scholars have increasingly recognized the important role played by the U.S. Courts of Appeals and have thus investigated the determinants of circuit judge decisions, including those stemming from judicial selection strategies advanced by administrations seeking candidates to the bench who will share the policy views of the appointing president. A common, but untested, assumption is that the role of policy preferences remains constant over the course of a judge's tenure on the bench. The present analysis of decision making by judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit considers whether appointees' voting behavior varies by early, mid, and late career stages. The findings indicate only partial support for career effects in judicial voting on this circuit. Further analysis of decision making on two additional courts of appeals suggest that the effects of career stages may be tied to judicial socialization into the norms of the circuit.
Recommended Citation
Erin B. Kaheny, Sara C. Benesh & Susan B. Haire,
Career Stage and Decision Making on the Seventh Circuit: A Comparative Analysis,
32
S. Ill. U. L.J.
509
(2008).
Available at:
https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/siulj/vol32/iss3/3