Dr. Brett Curry

Biography

Dr. Curry received his Ph.D. in political science from The Ohio State University in 2005, and has been a faculty member at Georgia Southern since 2006.  He teaches and researches in the field of American politics, with a general focus on law and courts. Curry’s research has been published in journals such as the Journal of Politics, Law & Society Review, American Politics Research, Law & Social Inquiry, Presidential Studies Quarterly, Political Research Quarterly, and Politics & Policy.  He has coauthored two books, Decision Making by the Modern Supreme Court (Cambridge University Press, 2011) and U.S. Attorneys, Political Control, and Career Ambition (Oxford University Press, 2019).

Research and Teaching Interests

Judicial decision making, United States Attorneys, Constitutional law, American government, American political institutions, and research methods.

Selected Publications

• U.S. Attorneys, Political Control, and Career Ambition (with Banks Miller). 2019. New York: Oxford University Press.
• “Haphazard, Systematic, or Both? An Empirical Investigation of the U.S. Attorney Firings in 2006.” (with Banks Miller). Journal of Law & Courts 6 (2018).
• “Case Citation Patterns in the U.S. Courts of Appeals and the Legal Academy” (with Banks Miller). Justice System Journal 38 (2017): 164-182.
• “Small Group Dynamics, Ideology, and Decision Making on the U.S. Courts of Appeals” (with Banks Miller). Law & Policy 39 (2017): 48-72.
• “Organized Interests and Administrative Rulemaking: The State of Wisconsin’s Lobbyists and Coalitions” (with Nathan Grasse and Brieanne Heidbreder).   Journal of Public Affairs 16 (2016): 255-269.
• “Judicial Specialization and Ideological Decision Making in the U.S. Courts of Appeals” (with Banks Miller).  Law & Social Inquiry 40 (2015):  29-50.
• “Of Politics, Self-Preservation, and Symbolism:  An Investigation of Jurisdiction-Stripping and Legislative Redistricting” (with Trenton J. Davis).  The Social Science Journal 51 (2014):  398-407.
• “Preserving Institutional Power:  The Supreme Court and Strategic Decision Making in the Separation of Powers” (with Bryan W. Marshall and Richard L. Pacelle, Jr.).  Politics & Policy 42 (2014):  37-76.
• “The Effects of Per Se Recusal Rules on Donor Behavior in Judicial Elections” (with Banks Miller).  Justice System Journal (2013):  125-151.
• “Experts Judging Experts:  The Role of Expertise in Reviewing Agency Decision Making” (with Banks Miller). Law & Social Inquiry 38 (Winter 2013):55-71.
• Decision Making by the Modern Supreme Court (with Richard L. Pacelle, Jr. and Bryan W. Marshall).  2011.  New York:  Cambridge University Press.
• “Does Descriptive Race Representation Enhance Institutional Legitimacy?  The Case of the U.S. Courts” (with Nancy Scherer). Journal of Politics 72 (January 2010):  90-104.
• “Expertise, Experience, and Ideology on Specialized Courts:  The Case of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit” (with Banks Miller).  Law & Society Review 43 (December 2009):  837-862.

Last updated: 12/15/2023