Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Gender And Political Incentives: Examining The Applicant Pool Under Merit Selection, Logan M. Loftis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Merit selection is a judicial selection system for when a state’s constitution or statute directs an independent nominating commission to evaluate applicants as a precursor to gubernatorial appointment. The initial process to fill a judicial vacancy under merit selection has three steps: application, nomination, and appointment. Proponents of the selection system insist that by de-emphasizing politics and highlighting qualifications, judicial diversification will be more likely to increase under merit selection. Yet, there is not a clear consensus as to whether merit selection systematically engenders a more diverse bench.

In this thesis, I explore whether women are less likely to apply …