Publication Date
Spring 5-4-2025
Document Type
Student Project
First Advisor
Clark, April
Degree Name
B.A. (Bachelor of Arts)
Department
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This research joins a limited number of existing studies investigating polarization on the Supreme Court by focusing on a specific policy area, reproductive rights, through an analysis of Martin-Quinn scores, a traditional measurement of judicial ideology. Following previous studies investigating polarization in the judicial system, polarization on the Supreme Court is identified through partisan sorting, the alignment of party affiliation and issue position, and traditional polarization, increasing support for extreme positions relative to more positions. Overall, the Court shows no signs of traditional polarization as moderate justices are still present on the Supreme Court and liberal and conservative justices are no more extreme in their ideologies today than justices were in previous terms, as demonstrated by their Martin-Quinn scores. However, justices have formed clear ideological blocs on the Supreme Court, in which justices of opposing ideologies, as determined by their Martin-Quinn scores, no longer vote together on reproductive rights cases.
Recommended Citation
Pechman, Brianna, "Evaluating the Extent and Consequences of Polarization in the Supreme Court" (2025). Honors Capstones. 1541.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/studentengagement-honorscapstones/1541
