Doctoral Dissertation Research: Friends of the Supreme Court: Examining the Influence of Interest Groups in the U.S. Supreme Court, 1946-2001

本研究将阐明我们对法庭之友简报如何以及为何影响最高法院法官决策的理论和实证理解。本研究的三个目标是：从理论上将法庭之友参与与最高法院案情投票的主流理论——态度模型联系起来；考察意识形态的中介作用，因为它涉及到法庭之友简报如何影响最高法院法官的决策；系统地确定法庭之友简报是否影响最高法院法官的决策，如果影响，影响程度有多大，在什么情况下影响。将收集和更新1946年至2001年法院任期内所有法庭之友文件的数据。运用严谨的方法论技术，本研究将促进我们对利益集团策略和有效性以及司法决策的理解，这是政治科学家长期关注的两个问题。本研究将促进学术界更好地理解法庭之友摘要如何影响法官的决策。

This study will clarify our theoretical and empirical understanding of how and why amicus curiae briefs influence the decision making of Supreme Court justices. The three goals of this study are to link theoretically amicus curiae participation to the predominant theory of voting on the merits in the Supreme Court, the attitudinal model; to examine the mediating role of ideology as it relates to how amicus briefs influence the decision making of Supreme Court justices; and to systematically determine if amicus briefs influence the decision making of Supreme Court justices and, if so, how much and under what circumstances. Data will be collected and updated on all amicus curiae filings during the 1946-2001 terms of the Court. Using rigorous methodological techniques, this study will advance our understanding of interest group strategies and effectiveness, as well as judicial decision-making, two of the enduring concerns of political scientists. This study will promote a better understanding in academic circles of how amicus briefs influence the decision making of the justices.