Explaining Variation in Supreme Court Voting on Reproductive Rights: The Roles of Ideology and Religion

Author: Karina Singh

Field of Study: Political Science

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Wendy Martinek

Easel: 99

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: What causes variation in Supreme Court justices' voting behavior in reproductive rights cases? This study builds upon existing scholarship that places ideology at the forefront of judicial decision-making and applies these ideas to the ideologically salient issue area of reproductive rights. It also examines the role of justices’ religious affiliation in relation to ideology. This research employs a quantitative analysis of justice-level votes in reproductive rights cases between Roe v. Wade (1973) and Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022). By coding votes as supporting or opposing the expansion of abortion rights and classifying justices by religion and ideology, this study tests whether these factors influence judicial decision-making. This study anticipates that both factors will have significant effects on the voting behavior of justices in reproductive rights cases, with ideology having a stronger impact. This research contributes to existing scholarship on ideological voting, improving the ability to predict judicial decision-making.