Courts and Judges in the News and ‘New’ Media

Session Submission Type: In-Person Created Panel

Session Description

Citizens are increasingly consuming political information from a new, diverse set of sources like social media. Yet, traditional and ‘new’ media sources can vary in the nature of the coverage they provide, and news providers may engage in strategic framing to boost their perceived credibility and/or attract audiences. As demonstrated in this panel, this evolving informational landscape poses multiple challenges and opportunities for judicial scholars in their efforts to understand how news shapes citizen perceptions of courts and judges. These new media platforms further highlight new opportunities for judges and groups to publicize their own activity directly to citizens, suggesting the importance of studying these messages and their impact.

Sub Unit

• Division 26: Law and Courts

Individual Presentations

• All the News That’s Fit for the Internet? Coverage and Sharing of SCOTUS News - Justin Wedeking, University of Kentucky; Michael Zilis, University of Kentucky

• Bridging the Supreme Court & the Public: Media Credibility & Judicial Legitimacy - Lydia Applin, Bowling Green State University

• Electoral Effects of News Stories on Judicial Candidates - Marcy Shieh, University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Pursuing Change or Pursuing Credit? Litigation & Credit Claiming on Social Media - Kirsten Widner, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Maggie Macdonald, New York University; Anna M Gunderson, Louisiana State University

Chair

• Joshua Boston Bowling Green State University

Discussants

• Joshua Boston Bowling Green State University

• Andrew R Stone Harvard University