Social Science Use and the Law: Perspectives of Individuals Cited in Amicus Briefs in Fisher

• In Event: Equity in Education

Abstract

This study contributes a more systematic and nuanced understanding of the use of extra-legal sources within the legal arena, with a focus on “the type of information” being provided to the Court via amicus briefs. Specifically, it addresses the following research questions: How do producers of the extra-legal sources cited in Fisher briefs perceive the use of social science in the law generally and in amicus curiae briefs specifically? Related, what roles do these producers see themselves playing, if any, in the acquisition, interpretation, and use of extra-legal sources by amici? The results, then, focus on the perspective of the producers of the extra-legal sources being used by legal actors in this process, a perspective that has been generally ignored.

Authors

• John T. Yun, Michigan State University

• Patricia Marin, Michigan State University

• Catherine L. Horn, University of Houston

• Liliana M. Garces, University of Texas at Austin