Dr. Meghan Leonard
Associate Professor/Associate Chair
Politics and Government
Office
SCH Schroeder Hall 408C
Office Phone
Email
- About
- Education
- Research
Current Courses
205.001Advanced Honors Seminar: Interdisciplinary Investigations
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. State high courts and horizontal constraints. Research Handbook on Judicial Politics. Edward Elgar Publishing (2024): 201-211.
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. Democratic Backsliding in the American States: The Case of Judicial Independence. Publius: The Journal of Federalism 54.3 (2024): 573-597.
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)
Presentations
Trump v. Anderson: The Political Science and Legal Studies Perspective. Pre-Law March 20 Meeting. ISU Pre-Law Club. (2024)
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.