Meghan Leonard, Ph.D.

mleonar@ilstu.edu

Illinois State University

Country: United States (Illinois)

About Me:

I am an Associate Professor of political science at Illinois State University. My research examines decision-making on state supreme courts. I focus on how institutional design affects how judges make decisions.  In addition, we are undertaking a project that examines the ways in which the gender of the justices, including the chief justice and the majority opinion writer affects how decisions are made and opinions are written.  In a separate project funded by the National Science Foundation, I examine the use of court-curbing legislation introduced by state legislatures and how that affect the decisions the courts make and the separation of powers systems in the states. 

Research Interests

Judicial Politics

State and Local Politics

State Supreme Courts

Judicial Decision-Making

Court-Legislative Interactions

Court-Curbing

Gender And Judging

Countries of Interest

United States