Affiliation

Unveiling the Hidden Influence: How Party Affiliation Shapes Judicial Outcomes, Reveals Washington Post Columnist

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Washington, D.C. – A recent column in The Washington Post has sparked a discussion surrounding the inclusion of a judge’s appointing president in legal media. Ruth Marcus, the author of the column, defended the practice as a standard convention in the industry. She received an email from an unnamed federal appeals court judge, nominated by President Ronald Reagan, expressing their disagreement with this approach. This exchange has led to a broader conversation about the relevance of party affiliation when reporting on judicial decisions. Marcus addressed the judge’s contentions by citing research conducted by Harvard Law … Read more

New Study Reveals Surprising Influence of Party Affiliation on Judicial Outcomes

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Washington, D.C. – The debate over whether the media should identify the president who appointed federal judges has gained attention recently. Critics argue that highlighting the president’s association with judges perpetuates the belief that courts are just extensions of political parties. However, a new study by a Harvard Law School professor suggests that party affiliation does play a significant role in judicial outcomes. The study, conducted by Alma Cohen, examined 630,000 federal appeals court cases from 1985 to 2020. Cohen found that party affiliation had a far-reaching impact on decisions, beyond just controversial issues like … Read more