26. Law and Courts

Stefanie Lindquist, Vanderbilt University, stefanie.lindquist@vanderbilt.edu

The theme of this year’s APSA conference involves inequalities based on social status, class, race, and gender. In connection with this theme, scholars have long recognized the critical role courts and legal institutions play in correcting or exacerbating the marginalization of different groups in society. Since the time of Marc Galanter’s famous thesis regarding Haves and Have Nots in court, judicial scholars have been sensitive to systems or patterns of inequality that arise within the law’s institutional frameworks. Pursuant to the conference theme, the section seeks proposals for papers that consider the ways that courts, judges, litigants and lawyers affect societal inequalities. Work that addresses the relationship between legal outcomes and race, gender or social status are particularly encouraged.