Clarence Thomas is Not Enough: How Descriptive and Substantive Representation Shape Trust and Legitimacy of the Federal Courts

• In Event: Representation and the Courts

Brief Overview

We show that substantive representation in the court system reduces perceptions of bias and increases institutional trust and legitimacy among marginalized groups. Descriptive representation without substance is insufficient for preserving support.

Authors

• Philip Gordon Chen, Beloit College

• Amanda Clare Savage, Loyola University Chicago