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Dr. Meghan Leonard

Associate Professor/Associate Chair
Politics and Government
Office
Schroeder Hall - SCH 408C
  • About
  • Education
  • Research

Current Courses

212.001The Politics Of Legal Decision Making

326.001Constitutional Law: Due Process Rights

426.001Constitutional Law: Due Process Rights

215.001U.S. Judicial Process

Teaching Interests & Areas

Judicial Process Judicial Decision-Making Constitutional Law Voting Rights

Research Interests & Areas

Judicial Politics State Courts Court Institutional Legitimacy Judicial Decision-Making

Ph D Political Science

University of Arizona

MA Political Science

University of Arizona

BA Political Science

Union College
NY

Book, Chapter

Leonard, M., & Carlson, L. Judicial Selection and Retention of State Court Judges. Richard G. Niemi and Joshua J. Dyck (EDs), Guide to State Politics and Policy. CQ Press (2013)
Langer, L., Leonard, M., & Polk, A. Studying State Judicial Races in a Transformed Electoral Environment. Oxford Handbook of American Elections and Political Behavior (2010)

Journal Article

Leonard, M., & Ross, J. Gender Diversity, Women’s Leadership, and Consensus in State Supreme Courts. Journal of Women, Politics, & Policy (2020)
Leonard, M. State Legislatures, State High Courts, and Judicial Independence: An Examination of Court-Curbing Legislation in the States. Justice System Journal 37.1 (2016): 53-62.
Leonard, M., & Ross, J. Understanding the Length of State Supreme Court Opinions. American Politics Research 44.4 (2016): 710-733.
Leonard, M., & Ross, J. Cooperation and Consensus on State Supreme Courts. State Politics and Policy Quarterly (2014)
Leonard, M. Elections and Decision-Making on State High Courts: Examining Legitimacy and Judicial Review. Justice System Journal 35.1 (2014): 45-61.

Presentations

Conference on Ex parte Milligan. University Club Discussion Hour. University Club. (2016)
Too Close for Discomfort? An Explanation of Perceived Institutional Legitimacy. Department of Politics and Government. (2015)

Grants & Contracts

Judicial Independence in the American States: Interbranch Conflict and State High Court Reactions to Constraints. National Science Foundation. Federal. (2017)
Court-Curbing in the States: State Supreme Court Responsiveness. American Political Science Association. Other. (2015)
Ex Parte Milligan Conference Fiunding. Fell Trust. Illinois State University.