This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 1532673X07309602v1 36/3/382    most recent References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Add to My Marked Citations Google Scholar Articles by Nicholson, C. Articles by Collins, P. M. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The Solicitor General's Amicus Curiae Strategies in the Supreme Court

University of Houston, Texas

Paul M. Collins, Jr.

University of North Texas, Denton

Scholars have devoted a great deal of research to investigating the role and influence of the U.S. solicitor general (SG) as amicus curiae in the Supreme Court. Yet, we know little about the SG's decision to file an amicus brief and how this relates to the SG's success on the merits. We fill this void by examining legal, political, and administrative factors that affect the SG's decision to participate as amicus curiae. We subject our hypotheses to empirical testing using data on the 1953 to 1999 Supreme Court terms by linking the SG's decision to file an amicus brief to the SG's ultimate success on the merits, employing a Heckman-style selection model. We find that the SG's decision to file an amicus brief is influenced by legal, political, and administrative considerations, suggesting that the SG is best viewed through the incorporation of a variety of theoretical perspectives.

Key Words: solicitor general • Supreme Court • separation of powers • amicus curiae • executive branch • presidential agenda

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?