Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies

Session II

Anne Hensley Young, "Whose Politics is it Anyway? Abortion Interest Groups and Presidential Judicial Nominations"

In recent years, the issue of abortion has become highly popularized in the media and politics, resulting in an unusual attention being placed on decisions surrounding the issue. Unusually, very little research or data has reviewed the role interest groups play in the making of such decisions. The lack of literature in this sphere presents a critical gap in the study of interest group behavior. This research argues that interest groups have a significant interest in the choices made surrounding the right to abortion, and it questions how that interest plays out in the sphere of Presidential nominations to the Supreme and Appellate Courts. By reviewing interest groups donations to Presidential campaigns and the ideological stances of the Appellate and Supreme Court nominees, it is evident that interest groups do not fiscally motivate or alter Presidents’ nominations to the Supreme and Appellate Courts. 

Student Major(s): Government/Theatre

Advisor: Dr. Claire McKinney