Oral Argument and Amicus Curiae

Oral Argument and Amicus Curiae
Matthew M.C. Roberts
November 2011

ISBN-13:  978-1-59332-466-7 / Hardcover
Dimensions:  5.5 x 8.5 / viii, 168 pages

Price   $65.00

Description

Members of the Supreme Court are supposed to base decisions on the law, but often their choices are better explained by political ideology and party loyalty. Roberts sheds light on this problem by looking at a part of the Court’s life that has never been systematically studied. Most cases feature extra briefs written by third parties known as amici curiae. He examines the rare occasions on which the Court allows these extra groups to participate not just by filing briefs but by appearing before the Court during oral arguments. By tracing how these groups influence the justices’ behavior, Roberts presents a strong case that the Court is driven by more than politics.

About the Author

Matthew Roberts was born and raised in Detroit, MI. In 1994 he graduated with a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. In 2009 he received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota. He has taught at Calvin College, Hope College, Aquinas College, Kuyper College, and the University of Minnesota.