"Can Racial Diversity Among Judges Affect Sentencing Outcomes?" Under Review
Scholars, politicians, and professionals are interested in understanding how diversity within institutions alters institutional performance. This paper identifies the role that racial diversity among judges plays in state criminal courts. Scholars have noted that Black defendants are more frequently incarcerated than White defendants, even when they are charged with similar crimes. Using felony case data from the Circuit Court of Cook County in Illinois, I explore the relationship between the racial composition of the group of judges comprising the criminal court and individual judges' sentencing decisions. I find that as Black judges increase their representation on the bench, White and Black judges are less likely to render incarceration sentences in cases with Black defendants and White judges are more likely to render incarceration sentences in cases with non-Black defendants.This behavior decreases the racial gap in the probability of incarceration by 15 percentage-points, improving the equity of sentencing outcomes.
Scholars, politicians, and professionals are interested in understanding how diversity within institutions alters institutional performance. This paper identifies the role that racial diversity among judges plays in state criminal courts. Scholars have noted that Black defendants are more frequently incarcerated than White defendants, even when they are charged with similar crimes. Using felony case data from the Circuit Court of Cook County in Illinois, I explore the relationship between the racial composition of the group of judges comprising the criminal court and individual judges' sentencing decisions. I find that as Black judges increase their representation on the bench, White and Black judges are less likely to render incarceration sentences in cases with Black defendants and White judges are more likely to render incarceration sentences in cases with non-Black defendants.This behavior decreases the racial gap in the probability of incarceration by 15 percentage-points, improving the equity of sentencing outcomes.
“Voter Response to Salient Judicial Decisions in Retention Elections.” Accepted, Law & Social Inquiry
Even at their most salient, judicial retention elections do not increase turnout on Election Day. However, those who vote often participate in judicial retention races at higher levels than usual following salient judicial decisions. I use a series of difference-in-differences analyses to estimate the effect of the Iowa Supreme Court’s legalization of same-sex marriage on the subsequent retention races. I find that retention race participation was higher than we would have otherwise expected after the decision. Scholars often cite the infrequence with which justices are removed as evidence of justices’ relative independence from voters in retention elections; but the overwhelming retention of these justices does not mean they are independent from voters. Increases in the number of ballots cast in these races is perhaps more important than increases in negative votes when it comes to judicial independence, because each vote is an evaluation of the justices, whether positive or negative.
Even at their most salient, judicial retention elections do not increase turnout on Election Day. However, those who vote often participate in judicial retention races at higher levels than usual following salient judicial decisions. I use a series of difference-in-differences analyses to estimate the effect of the Iowa Supreme Court’s legalization of same-sex marriage on the subsequent retention races. I find that retention race participation was higher than we would have otherwise expected after the decision. Scholars often cite the infrequence with which justices are removed as evidence of justices’ relative independence from voters in retention elections; but the overwhelming retention of these justices does not mean they are independent from voters. Increases in the number of ballots cast in these races is perhaps more important than increases in negative votes when it comes to judicial independence, because each vote is an evaluation of the justices, whether positive or negative.
“Support for Black Reparations in the Early 21st Century,” with Michael C. Dawson. Forthcoming. In Reflections on Black Politics in the Early 21st Century. Oxford University Press.
“Local Public Finance and Discriminatory Policing: Evidence from Traffic Stops in Missouri,” with Elliott Ash and Jeffrey Fagan.
“Local Public Finance and Discriminatory Policing: Evidence from Traffic Stops in Missouri,” with Elliott Ash and Jeffrey Fagan.
