Judicial Behavior and Policymaking introduces students to the politics of judging, exploring why judges make the decisions they do, who has the power to influence judicial decision-making, and what the consequences of court decisions are for policymaking. Further, this text familiarizes students with the methods that professional political scientists use to conduct research about the courts, including the quantitative analysis of data. Designed for undergraduates and graduate students alike, this accessible and engaging text provides a thorough introduction to the world of judicial politics. Key features: -a concise review of the latest political science research on judging -coverage of a broad range of courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals, state supreme courts, and trial courts -numerous tables and figures featuring actual data that political scientists use to study judging -excerpts from cases, as well as speeches describing judicial behavior in the judges' own words -text boxes highlighting various methodologies and judicial processes -discussion questions for each chapter -a comprehensive glossary.