The Diversification of the Federal Bench: Policy and Process Ramifications

Abstract

Considerable debate has been generated regarding the impact of President Carter's appointment of record numbers of female and minority judges to the lower federal courts. Using a "matched pair" research strategy, this study empirically examines the policy and process consequences of adding large numbers of nontraditional judges to the U.S. District Court bench. Few differences were discovered between black and white judges. However, female judges tended to be less supportive of personal rights claims and minority policy positions and more sympathetic to economic regulation than were their male counterparts. Female judges displayed a distinct pattern of deferring to positions taken by the government. No substantial male/female or white/black differences emerged on three measures of decision-making quality.