The term “judicial activism” is often used when assessing judges, and phrases like “activist judges” are haphazardly bandied about with little analysis. It is a phrase most use subjectively , and many judicial critics say they know it when they see it. What does judicial activism actually mean and how do we measure it?
In Measuring Judicial Activism, authors Stefanie A. Lindquist and Frank B, Cross attempt to apply non-ideological terms to identify specific empirical dimensions to the concept, and measure those dimensions using systematic tools. After getting past the detailed, yet interesting definition and quantitative measures that make up judicial activism, the authors apply their analysis to recent justices on the Court. I suspect that you will be surprised which justices end up at the top and bottom of the activism scale.
This book can be viewed and borrowed at the Ramsey County Law Library. Come visit us on the 18th floor of the Ramsey County Courthouse.
