In 1992, Senator Dianne Feinstein famously quipped, “Two percent may be good enough for milk, but it is not good enough for the United States Senate.” Her words captured a
Oct 2025
International Human Rights Law and Women’s Access to Abortion
Can international law protect abortion rights? Drawing from past work on domestic mechanisms that give international law teeth, we argue that a strong civil society composed of women’s groups and
Sep 2025
Gendered Policy Leadership in the Judicial Branch
In most states, the chief justice is tasked with leading the judiciary and working within the political environment to address its shortcomings. This requires public advocacy that emphasizes the needs
Sep 2025
The Politics of Interim Judicial Appointments
In most states, the chief justice is tasked with leading the judiciary and working within the political environment to address its shortcomings. This requires public advocacy that emphasizes the needs
Jun 2025
International Human Rights Law and Women’s Access to Abortion
Can international law protect abortion rights? Drawing from past work on domestic mechanisms that give international law teeth, we argue that a strong civil society composed of women’s groups and
Mar 2025
Making Their Mark: Women Judges on the U.S. Courts of Appeals
Women who reach the bench in the U.S. Courts of Appeals have endured the gauntlet of law school, legal practice, and Senate confirmation to secure their prestigious place in the
Sep 2024
Gender and racial influences on judicial decision making
As judiciaries in the US and elsewhere become more diverse, scholars have explored more fully the role of judge race and gender in decision making. This essay provides a summary
Jan 2024
Trailblazers and Those That Followed: Personal Experiences, Gender, and Judicial Empathy
This article investigates one causal mechanism that may explain why female judges on the federal appellate courts are more likely than men to side with plaintiffs in sex discrimination cases.
Jan 2024
‘All eyes are on you’: Gender, race, and opinion writing on the US Courts of Appeals
Because stereotyping affects individual assessments of ability and because of socializing experiences in the law, we argue that women and judges of color, while well-credentialed, feel pressure to work harder
Sep 2023
Female Electoral Success and the Survival of Girl Children in India
In India, a strong cultural preference for sons often leads to sex-selective abortion or neglect of girls in early childhood. We explore the possibility that female electoral successes increase girl
