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American Politics Research
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The Constraint of Law

A Study of Supreme Court Dissensus

Sara C. Benesh

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Harold J. Spaeth

Michigan State University

To study the behavior of judges, one must first consider whether judges are just like any other political actor (e.g., legislators) or whether, because of their affiliation with the judiciary, law constrains their behavior to some extent. Research aimed at considering the extent to which judges are constrained by the law is sparse, and conclusions resulting from such research are mixed. In this article, the authors explore the extent to which law constrains judges by focusing on the decision to dissent rather than concur when Supreme Court justices write separately. The authors find that, although law matters, it does not constrain.

Key Words: Supreme Court • federal courts • judicial behavior • law • dissenting opinions • judicial preferences

American Politics Research, Vol. 35, No. 5, 755-768 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1532673X06296991
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