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Dr. Meghan Leonard

Associate Professor/Associate Chair
Politics and Government
Office
SCH Schroeder Hall 408C
  • About
  • Education
  • Research

Current Courses

325.001Constitutional Law: Functions And Powers

425.001Constitutional Law: Functions and Powers

287.003Independent Study

215.001U.S. Judicial Process

212.001The Politics Of Legal Decision Making

308.001The Right to Vote in the United States

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., & 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., & 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)
Leonard, M. Elections and Decision-Making on State High Courts: Examining Legitimacy and Judicial Review. Justice System Journal 35.1 (2014): 45-61.

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.