Friends of the Circuits: Interest Group Influence on Decision Making in the U.S. Courts of Appeals

Though there is an extensive literature focused on the participation and efficacy of interest group amici curiae in the U.S. Supreme Court, there is little rigorous analysis of amici curiae in the U.S. Courts of Appeals. Here, we systematically analyze the influence of amicus curiae briefs on U.S. Court of Appeals decision making to provide insights regarding both judicial decision making and the efficacy of interest groups. Copyright (c) 2010 by the Southwestern Social Science Association.