How Has Party Polarization Changed the U.S. Federal Judiciary? An Analysis of Presidential Nominations to Lower Court Posts

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K01452
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 06010:Politics-related
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Okayama Hiroshi 慶應義塾大学, 法学部(三田), 教授 (70272408)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: アメリカ合衆国 / 司法 / 大統領 / 政治任命 / 裁判官人事 / 政党政治

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This project addressed how the ideological polarization of the major parties in the US has altered the characteristics of federal lower court judges, who are nominated and appointed by the President. Particularly noteworthy is the substantial rise in the appointment of lawyers with experience working within the executive branch, primarily as government lawyers, to appellate courts. Two reasons drive these appointments. First, the policy preferences of these lawyers are widely recognized by fellow partisans, enabling the president to nominate them with confidence. Second, and more significantly, it is anticipated that these lawyers have developed a disposition to support the extensive use of presidential power through their experiences in the executive branch.

Free Research Field

アメリカ政治史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

アメリカの裁判官人事の研究では従来、大統領の指名を受けて議会上院がそれをどう承認するかに関心が集中しており、大統領側がどのような指名を行うかの分析は本格化して間もない状況にある。指名の分析も、大統領がどの裁判官ポストを優先するのかといった検討が中心で、裁判所が出す判決の内容に直接影響しうる、どんな人物が重視されるのかに関する研究は意外にも手薄である。本研究課題の分析は、大統領がどう権力拡大を目指すのかという、大統領研究について重要なテーマと関連づける形で新たな知見を示すという形でこの分野に貢献している。