University of Georgia

Professor of Political Science Thomas P. and M. Jean Lauth Public Affairs ProfessorCourtesy Appointment, School of LawAffiliated Faculty, Criminal Justice Studies Program

Curriculum Vitae

Christina L. Boyd is a Professor in the Department of Political Science and the Thomas P. and M. Jean Lauth Public Affairs Professor. Her research focuses on judges and litigants in federal courts, judicial diversity, and the intersection of courts and the bureaucracy in American politics.

Professor Boyd’s work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and has appeared in Oxford University Press and leading political science and law journals such as the American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, Journal of Law, Economics, & Organization, Journal of Legal Studies, Law & Society Review, Political Research Quarterly, Northwestern University Law Review, and Vanderbilt Law Review. Her research has been discussed in media outlets such as New York Times, Washington Post, FiveThirtyEight, Christian Science Monitor, Newsweek, and National Public Radio.

Professor Boyd is a member of the North Carolina Bar (inactive) and grew up in beautiful western Montana.

Education
  • Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis 2009, Political Science
  • A.M., Washington University in St. Louis 2006, Political Science
  • J.D., Wake Forest University 2004, Law
  • B.A., University of Florida 2001, Political Science
Areas of Expertise
  • Judges and judicial politics
  • Judicial Diversity (gender, race, experience)
  • Law and politics
  • American political institutions
  • Empirical legal studies
  • Law and economics
  • Trial courts
  • Litigation
  • Settlement
  • Prosecutors
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Administrative law and bureaucracy
Honors, Awards, and Achievements
  • American Political Science Association Law & Courts Section 2022 Lasting Contribution Award for “Untangling the Causal Effects of Sex on Judging.”
  • School of Public and International Affairs Excellence in Research Award, University of Georgia, 2020-2021.
  • Lauth Teaching Award, Department of Political Science, University of Georgia, 2019-2020.
  • School of Public and International Affairs Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Georgia, 2019.
  • Graduate School Outstanding Mentoring Award, Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Georgia, 2018.
  • Lisa Hertel Memorial Political Science Teaching Award, University at Buffalo, SUNY, 2012-2013.
  • 2008 Pi Sigma Alpha Award for the best paper delivered at the 2007 meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association for “Untangling the Causal Effects of Sex on Judging.
  • Association of Women Faculty of Washington University 2007-2008 Graduate Student Award
  • Antoinette Dames Prize for Outstanding Graduate Level Class Paper, 2008. Department of Political Science, Washington University.
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Honorable Mention (2006)
Course Instruction
Selected Publications

Boyd, Christina L., Paul M. Collins, Jr., and Lori A. Ringhand. Supreme Bias? Gender and Race in U.S. Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings. Under Contract, Stanford University Press.

Boyd, Christina L., Michael J. Nelson, Ian Ostrander, and Ethan D. Boldt. The Politics of Federal Prosecution. Oxford University Press. 2021.

Boyd, Christina L., Pauline T. Kim, and Margo Schlanger. 2020. “Mapping the Iceberg: The Impact of Data Sources on the Study of District Courts.” Journal of Empirical Legal Studies 17(3): 466-492.

Boyd, Christina L., Paul M. Collins, Jr., and Lori A. Ringhand. 2018. “The Role of Nominee Gender and Race at U.S. Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings.” Law & Society Review 52: 871-901.

Barnett, Kent, Christina L. Boyd, and Christopher J. Walker. 2018. “Administrative Law’s Political Dynamics.” Vanderbilt Law Review 71: 1463-1526.

Boyd, Christina L. 2016. “Representation on the Courts? The Effects of Trial Judges’ Sex and Race.” Political Research Quarterly 69: 788-799.

Boyd, Christina L. 2013. “She’ll Settle It?” Journal of Law and Courts 1(2): 193-219.

Boyd, Christina L., Lee Epstein, and Andrew D. Martin. 2010. “Untangling the Causal Effects of Sex on Judging.” American Journal of Political Science. 54(2): 389-411.

Grants

National Science Foundation Grant SES-2141551. Principal Investigator. “Creating the Federal Judicial Database and Research Agenda.” Law and Science Program. 2022- 2025. $483,086.

National Science Foundation Grant SES-1626932. Principal Investigator. “How Social Security Administration Appeals Fare in the Federal Trial Courts.” Law and Social Sciences and Science of Organizations Programs. 2016-2021. (Co-Principal Investigators Scott H. Ainsworth and Michael S. Lynch). $243,297.

National Science Foundation Grant SES-1626932. Principal Investigator. “Supplemental Funding: How Social Security Administration Appeals Fare in the Federal Trial Courts.” Law and Social Sciences Program. 2019-2021. $45,986.

National Science Foundation Grant SES-1729077. Principal Investigator. “Doctoral Dissertation Research: The People and Process of Federal Criminal Cases.” Law and Social Sciences Program. 2017-2018. Graduate Advisee: Ethan Boldt. $17,615.

Faculty Research Grant in the Sciences. “Policy Making in the Federal District Courts.” University of Georgia Research Foundation. $7,000.

Baldy Center for Law & Social Policy, Annual Research Grant, University at Buffalo, SUNY. 2012-2013; 2011-2012; 2010-2011; 2009-2010.

National Science Foundation Grant SES-0818751. “Doctoral Dissertation Research: Placing Federal District Courts in the Judicial Hierarchy.” 2008. Graduate Advisor: Andrew D. Martin. $11,154.

Data, Research Project, & Google Scholar Links
Contact Information

Mailing address:
Christina L. Boyd
UGA Political Science Department
180 Baldwin Hall
355 S. Jackson Street
Athens, GA 30602

Political Science Department Main Office Phone:
(706) 542-2057 (use for letters of recommendation)

Christina L. Boyd
Christina L. Boyd

Campus Address

380E Baldwin Hall

Office Hours

By appointment