This paper offers a profile of state appellate court interpretation of rape shield provisions from the 50 states. Studying the corpus of appeals of rape convictions where the shield provision was challenged, we examine about 500 decisions of intermediate appellated decisions and courts of last...

Courts face a "catch-22" as a independent branch. On one hand court officials feel the need to remain "above politics" in order to secure the legitimacy of the branch and to remain independent. On other hand, courts must negotiate the very political budget process, interact effectively with the...