The value of stability in the law is reflected in the common law principle of stare decisis. Legal stability provides guidance to future and lower courts. Further, it allows litigants (potential and actual) and their attorneys to make informed decisions about litigation. Adherence to the...

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...

This article investigates the existence of a freshman effect on separate opinion authorship on the U.S. Courts of Appeals. First, we evaluate the extent to which freshman judges demonstrate unique behavior with respect to writing concurring and dissenting opinions. Second, we examine the...